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Parents, Educators/Teachers & Students in Action

November 17, 2022
Be Smart, Be Brave, Be Drug Free
Each October, schools nationwide engage in "Red Ribbon Week,” a drug-abuse prevention campaign that teaches students of all grade levels about alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and ways to prevent use. This year, from October 24th through the 30th, PESA staffer Jesus Gonzalez supported Los Angeles Leadership Academy High School by delivering a series of informative presentations on drugs and user prevention.

Students learned about the different forms drugs can take, from tablets and liquids to inhalants and powders. They also learned about the adverse mental and physical effects of these drugs and how quickly they can become addictive. To test their knowledge, students engaged in lively discussions to answer questions like: Why might you or your peers use or abuse drugs? What might happen if you use drugs repeatedly? And, how have drugs impacted you, your friends, or your family?
These questions are designed to encourage students to think critically about themselves and their communities and to have them fully comprehend the harmful effects of substance use. Students stated that sadness, stress, peer pressure and the desire to forget their difficulties can manifest in drug abuse.

The presentations concluded by emphasizing that teenagers' brains are still developing and that drug use can have a permanent impact on an adolescent's growth. At the close of each presentation, students signed their name on the drug free wall as a powerful reminder: Legal does not always imply safe! Any substance, in large enough quantities, can be harmful.

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