Pubdate: Mon, 18 Apr 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: Natalie J. Quinata
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

HOOPIN'IT UP ... AND STAYING DRUG-FREE

Program Helps Kids Sharpen Athletic Skills, Stay Drug-Free

Research shows that youths who are involved in constructive,
adult-supervised activities are less likely to use drugs than youths
with a lot of free time. Studies also show that youths with positive
role models are less likely to fall into substance abuse.

With these facts in mind, the Guam Youth Basketball Association and
the Department of Parks and Recreation have teamed up with other
agencies and businesses to organize the Shell Guam 2005 Drug-Free
Youth Basketball Clinic and League.

And thanks to this program, more than 900 of Guam's youth are taking
time after school to learn how to shoot hoops and say "no" to drugs.

In addition to teaching participants some basketball skills, Jean
Cepeda, one of the GYBA directors, said organizers decided to add
sessions that teach kids about being drug free.

"The whole basis was to make it a drug-free league. We make it fun for
them, and instead of just teaching them sports, we also throw in
something they can use throughout their lives," Cepeda said.

During practices, presenters from the Department of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse and the Guam Army National Guard come to the practice
sites and talk to kids about the harmful effects of substance abuse.

Members of the National Guard recently gave an anti-smoking
presentation that hit home for some of the players.

"I had one player tell me he was going to go home and ask his dad to
quit smoking," Cepeda said, explaining that the presentation involved
showing kids an actual model of how a typical smoker's lungs look like.

The league coaches also act as role models by pledging to promote
sportsmanship and a drug-free lifestyle. Cepeda said coaches are
prohibited from smoking or drinking in front of their participants and
are not even allowed to carry a pack of cigarettes during practices.

"We're promoting a drug-free, substance abuse-free lifestyle to our
kids, and we're teaching them about the importance of health and
wellness throughout life," said Mavericks Basketball Club coach Sid
Guzman. 
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