Pubdate: Wed, 03 Jan 2007
Source: Sheboygan Press (WI)
Copyright: 2007 Sheboygan Press
Contact: http://www.sheboygan-press.com/contact/forms/editor_letter.shtml
Website: http://www.sheboygan-press.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3993
Author: Giulianna Sutkiewicz, Kids Today correspondent
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

KIDS TODAY - NEW PROGRAM AIMS TO KEEP KIDS DRUG FREE

Students Against Drugs In Many Area Schools

Doesn't everyone want safe schools without drugs,  alcohol or
tobacco?

Well, the students in Sheboygan are making that happen.  Recently a
new program began in the Sheboygan schools,  Students Against Drugs
(SAD).

The program is designed to create a school environment  free of
alcohol, drug and tobacco influences and peer  pressure.

SAD has reached all of the public elementary schools, a  number of
private schools and public middle schools.  The program is designed to
follow kids into high  school.

Every month there is a new theme. The theme for January  is "Why Kids
Do Drugs."

Each school sets up a SAD committee.

The SAD committee is responsible for coming up with  monthly
activities to carry out the theme.

The committees consist of students, a school counselor,  a member of
the PTO and parents.

Another responsibility for the committee is deciding  when to wear the
SAD t-shirts distributed for the  program.

For example, the students at Christ Child Academy wear  the (SAD)
t-shirts every first Wednesday of the month.

"I like wearing my (SAD) t-shirt because it reminds me  not to use
drugs," said Laura Lombardo, a third grader  from Christ Child Academy.

"The main reason why we have a drug, alcohol and  tobacco problem is
because people try to solve their  stress with drugs, alcohol and
tobacco," said Officer  Priebe, who heads up the program.

The program is designed to identify the problem before  it's too late.
Parents are the last to know, while  friends can recognize the drug,
alcohol or tobacco  abuse earlier, Priebe said.

Seventh grader, Laurel Seagren, from Urban Middle  School thinks the
program is a great idea since she  recognizes the negative impact of
drugs.

"Drugs are wrong and can really change a person. They  can also tear
apart families," says Laurel.

But what can students do to get help for himself or  herself or a friend?

Help slips are located in the each of the schools'  offices.

They are there to offer to help the student or even  their family
needs assessed in order to have a life  without drugs.

After the slips are filled out, they are read by the  school counselor
who will assist the student by working  with the student and parent(s)
to help or prevent  future problems, also keeping the situation
confidential.

The counselor provides information that parents need to  identify drug
abuse. If the child is under the  influence, information on prevention
materials, local  resources and possible drug testing is supplied.

So far, the response to the program has been very  positive.

SAD might take years to become a fully developed  program, but has the
potential to become a very  successful one.

Giulianna Sutkiewicz is a seventh-grader at Christ  Child Academy in
Sheboygan.
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MAP posted-by: Derek