Pubdate: Wed, 27 Dec 2006
Source: Kent County Daily Times (RI)
Copyright: 2005 Kent County Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.kentcountytimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3802
Author: Tracy Scudder, Daily Times

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REVIVE EFFORT AGAINST DRUGS, DRINKING

WEST WARWICK - The group of West Warwick High School students sat 
around drinking, laughing and talking. The SADD truth is that they 
were drinking Gatorade, eating cupcakes and enjoying one another's company.

The group of about 20 students is trying to get the word out that 
drugs and alcohol aren't needed for teens to have a good time and 
they said that is one of many reasons they revived the Students 
Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) organization.

One of the founding members, junior Chelsea Carlson, said the 
students wanted to revive the group because they needed to get the 
message out there and they needed someone their fellow students could 
relate to.

"Someone our age can go out there and send the message," she said.

Many of the members of the organization said they know people that 
have used or do use drugs and alcohol.

Junior and founding member Jessica Laiter said she has had people in 
her life that were involved with drugs.

She said by creating SADD it will help spread the word that drugs can 
"destroy your life and those around you."

"There's been a lot of people that I have known that have done drugs 
or made bad decisions," said high school junior Chelsea Legault. "The 
consequences should be known. We want to motivate people in the right 
direction."

Carlson said some students think members of SADD are trying to tell 
them the only way is not to drink or do drugs.

"Obviously, we don't want them to do it," said Carlson. She said the 
group members are not imposing their beliefs on others.

"We want to help them so they can have a life that doesn't end in a 
bad situation," she said.

The group has a couple of different ideas to help get the message 
across, members said. They are planning a "Day of the Dead." Members 
from SADD will dress in black. They will not participate in class or 
talk to anyone. At the beginning of class, the teacher will read the 
student's obituary. The members said it will give their fellow 
students an idea of what life would be like if they weren't here.

The group is also thinking about having a presentation for the high 
school students that shows them the difficulty of overcoming drug 
abuse, members said.

Jessica Field, a junior and founding member of SADD, said she was 
raised not to drink alcohol or do drugs.  She said she wants to 
change other people's lives and lessen the number of deaths caused by 
drugs and alcohol.

Sarah Senerchia and Toni Carreiro, both juniors and founding SADD 
members, said they created the group to make a difference.

"No one listens to older people. We are the future. If we don't do 
something, who will," said Senerchia.

"We want to help people in school," said Carreiro. She said being 
with the members of SADD is comforting because she can be herself 
because she is surrounded by people who have similar beliefs.

"This is what I have always believed in. Be your own person without 
having to do what others do," said high school junior Jordan Soares. 
She said, by being in SADD, she is with people who support her.

Sophomore James Ward said he was recruited to be a member of SADD.

"I didn't know about SADD and then I was kind of dragged in. I'm glad 
I joined. I hope we will make a difference," said Ward. "I have never 
seen the reason why people go with the flow and go out and get drunk. 
They shouldn't have a reason to do that."

John Manna is the freshman in the group. He said he joined because he 
went to one of the club's fundraisers and started to talk with the 
members of the group.

"I talked to all cool people there," he said. "I'm totally for not 
doing that stuff."

Carlson said she has seen friends that have made bad decisions 
regarding drinking and drugs.

"I don't want anyone to go through what they went through and, if we 
can prevent those things from happening, I think that would be a goal 
to reach," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine