Pubdate: Mon, 03 Oct 2005
Source: Pacific Daily News (US GU)
Copyright: 2005 Pacific Daily News
Contact: http://www.guampdn.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.guampdn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1122
Author: Dionesis Tamondong
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ADDICT

Notre Dame Drama Club Aims To Raise Awareness Of Island Drug Abuse

Students at Notre Dame High School are hoping their performance of
Jerome McDonough's "Addict" will make a difference in the community.

The play, scheduled for next week at the school's Talofofo campus,
aims to show its audiences the horrible consequences people suffer
when drug abuse takes hold of their lives.

Michelle Bednarzyk, a teacher at the school and the director of its
theater program, said the play does not hold back when it comes to
displaying the ugly results of drug abuse. "The play doesn't just show
the consequences, but also the situations that the individuals were in
that led them to drug use," she said. "Youth, those in high school,
are the intended audience, but it falls somewhat along the PG-13
rating because of its graphic scenes and because it deals heavily with
death."

The stories of the characters deal with a huge gamut of drug use, from
steroids to crystal methamphetamine, commonly known on Guam as "ice."
Bednarzyk said the event is more than just a play.

Drug counselors will be on hand to provide information about drugs and
where people can go for help, she said. Informational pamphlets will
be handed out after the play.

Since the start of the year, the students have been working hard on
what Bednarzyk has described as "a very powerful piece," with many
intense scenes and monologues. "Some scenes will make the audience
squirm," she said.

She noted that some scenes have been changed to reflect local
situations and drug problems in Guam's community. 
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