Pubdate: Sat, 23 May 2009
Source: Petoskey News-Review (MI)
Copyright: 2009 Petoskey News-Review
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/SiXqHKpO
Website: http://www.petoskeynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4115
Author: Christina Rohn
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

STUDENTS PREP ANTI-DRUG AD CAMPAIGN

They're Trying To Keep Their Message Positive.

Students from Emmet and Charlevoix counties, who are  involved in 
SAFE (substance abuse free environment)  Youth, are working together 
to create a local ad  campaign which they hope will inspire and 
motivate students to stay away from drugs and alcohol.

"We want to be a positive enforcer and a positive  influence for our 
peers," said Mackenzie Macksey, a  16-year-old sophomore from Boyne City.

The students, who represent Petoskey, Harbor Springs,  Pellston, 
Charlevoix, Boyne Falls and Boyne City high  schools, recently 
attended Camp Daggett to shoot  pictures of their ropes-course 
experience for posters,  as well as shoot video for a public service 
announcement they plan to run at movie theaters in  Otsego, Antrim, 
Charlevoix and Emmet counties.

Rough drafts of the students' posters show SAFE Youth  in their 
helmets and harnesses at Camp Daggett's ropes  course, along with 
some of their taglines, which  include: "Teamwork: Together We Can 
Keep Each Other  SAFE," "Harness Life Soberly" and "Hangin' Sober."

"It's saying you don't need drugs to have fun," said  Morgan Harding, 
a 16-year-old Boyne City junior.

"It's like getting high on life naturally," said Cade  Ingleson, a 
16-year-old sophomore at Petoskey High  School.

Each poster that is made by students will be unique to  their school 
and their community.

"Our peers will see someone they know (in the ad),"  Mackenzie said.

"That way they can relate to it," Morgan added. "I'm  hoping everyone 
gets motivated by what we're doing,  recognizes the issue and can see 
there are ways around  substance abuse."

Cade said he hopes the posters and SAFE Youth's public  service 
announcement - which will both be distributed  this fall - will help 
to keep his peers from making bad  choices.

"I'd like to see kids look at it and maybe it will make  them think 
twice," he said. "I've seen what (drugs and  alcohol) can do, it can 
hurt people a lot if you get  addicted to the stuff ... this just 
shows there's  better things to do in your life."

Sue Pulaski, prevention specialist for the Health  Department of 
Northwest Michigan and member of SAFE,  said once the poster 
advertisements are complete, SAFE  Youth will submit one to FACE with 
the hope that their  message will go national.

"We're really excited about this," she said. "I think  (the students) 
have had a ton of energy, and they've  come up with great ideas - 
it's been great to work with  them."

Tricia Graham, co-chair of SAFE, said she believes that  by students 
putting together this ad campaign, their  peers will be more likely to listen.

"It's better if it's student-driven - young people  listen to young 
people, and adults listen to them as  well," she said. "I think (the 
campaign) is good  because it empowers youth who don't want to use. 
This  gives the message that it's cool not to use."

The idea for the positive campaign came from the "Life  at its best, 
add nothing" advertisements, which were  created by FACE, a national 
advertising company.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom