Pubdate: Fri, 20 Oct 2006
Source: Mississippi Press, The (MS)
Copyright: 2006 Mississippi Press
Contact:  http://www.gulflive.com/mississippipress/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2254
Author: Amber Craig

SRS KICKS OFF THIRD RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN

MOSS POINT -- By the end of school Friday, every child in a Jackson 
County public school should have a red ribbon to proudly wear to show 
their courage to say "no" to drugs.

Singing River Services, a mental health and drug-treatment facility 
in Gautier, is participating in the national campaign for its third 
year in a row to kick off Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 23-Oct. 31. The 
facility will send representatives to every school in the county to 
hand out red ribbons to students.

Singing River representatives stopped by the Moss Point Alternative 
Learning Center at 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning, where principal 
Toletha Cook said her students are gearing up for a week of emphasis 
on the drug-free message.

"For kids who are on drugs, we can let them know the harmful effects, 
and for the children who aren't on drugs, we have a drug prevention 
program," Cook said.

The facility will also be sending out guest speakers to schools this 
week. Nadine Wilson, a program coordinator and prevention specialist 
at Singing River Services, will speak to students at 11 schools next 
week, including nine elementary schools.

The majority of children who use drugs are 12-17 years old, but 
children as young as nine and 10 are starting to use drugs, Wilson said.

"We attempt to reach students in grade school, not to confuse them," 
Wilson said, "but to let them know what to expect in their teen years."

Along with tobacco and alcohol, students are more frequently using 
inhalants, "huffing" glue and abusing their own prescription 
medications, and Wilson is noticing how it is affecting their ability 
to concentrate.

"In the next 10 years, it's going to be bad, because our children 
won't be able to learn," Wilson said. "It's not because they won't 
want to; it's just that they won't be able to."

The National Family Partnership started the Red Ribbon Campaign in 
1988, three years after drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered 
36-year-old Kiki Camarena, an undercover agent with the Drug 
Enforcement Administration.

The ribbons, which may seem trivial to adults, are an important way 
for children to commit to a drug-free lifestyle, Singing River 
Services Executive Director Sherman Blackwell said.

"These ribbons represent a concrete reinforcer that says, I want to 
remain drug-free,'" Blackwell said.

Year-round, the Alternative Learning Center emphasizes a drug-free 
lifestyle and has therapists who the students can talk to, but one of 
the special activities for later this week is a play written and 
performed by 10-15 students in Shirley Owens' English class.

"The program is mainly about drugs and how it affects the lives of 
children at a young age," said student Darryl James.

Junvencia Middleton and LaSara Lett are both acting in a skit that 
shows other things students can do to get a "natural high."

"There are other things you can do instead of doing more drugs, like 
take a hot shower or hang out with your friends," Middleton said.

Almost as important, this week gives students at Moss Point's 
alternative school an opportunity to send a positive message and to 
change some perceptions outsiders might have about the school.

"Hopefully, this program gives ALC a good turnaround," James said.

"Even though we feel like, nationwide, we have a lot of wars far 
away," Blackwell said, "we don't want to neglect the war here at home 
- -- the war against drugs."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine