News (Media Awareness Project) - US IA: Students Go On Air Against Drugs |
| Title: | US IA: Students Go On Air Against Drugs |
| Published On: | 2007-04-02 |
| Source: | Iowa City Press-Citizen (IA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-17 06:26:36 |
STUDENTS GO ON AIR AGAINST DRUGS
Losing family members, friends and opportunities are all reasons for
teens not to drink or do drugs, the members of Teens Against Alcohol
and Drugs say.
In April, they hope to put their message on the air with a 30-second
commercial.
"We tried to reach everybody," said Jeannea Williams, 17, a City
High senior. "Everybody can be affected by drinking and smoking."
The group, also known as T.A.A.D., has been working to communicate
its anti-drug message since spring 2006. Sponsored by MECCA Services
in Iowa City and funded with a grant from the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration, T.A.A.D. is a community-wide
effort to stop teen drug and alcohol use, said Marilyn Wright,
MECCA's community relations manager. Currently, the group consists
of about 10 students, all from City High.
"We really want to replicate this around the county since this group
has been so successful," she said.
In the past year, the group has distributed about 300 T-shirts at
school and at the Johnson County Fair last summer. They've also
spoken with students at Wood Elementary and met with Iowa City
councilors about the alcohol issue.
The students hope to continue their work with a commercial as part
of national Students Against Drunk Driving month, said senior Rodney
Anderson, 17.
After conducting a survey of students last year about what approach
would affect them the most, the students decided to feature
fictional stories about teens who used alcohol and drugs and were
losing friends and opportunities.
"We tried to cover every part that would be affected," said junior
Jammie Hillard, 17.
Anderson said he hopes to air the commercial on local television
before City High's prom April 21.
"We want to do it before prom because that's when people get wasted," he said.
Henri Harper, City High's juvenile court liaison and at-risk
facilitator, said the students in T.A.A.D. have had a positive
effect at City High.
"They live what they preach," he said.
"They have lived as an example of what they're talking about."
Losing family members, friends and opportunities are all reasons for
teens not to drink or do drugs, the members of Teens Against Alcohol
and Drugs say.
In April, they hope to put their message on the air with a 30-second
commercial.
"We tried to reach everybody," said Jeannea Williams, 17, a City
High senior. "Everybody can be affected by drinking and smoking."
The group, also known as T.A.A.D., has been working to communicate
its anti-drug message since spring 2006. Sponsored by MECCA Services
in Iowa City and funded with a grant from the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration, T.A.A.D. is a community-wide
effort to stop teen drug and alcohol use, said Marilyn Wright,
MECCA's community relations manager. Currently, the group consists
of about 10 students, all from City High.
"We really want to replicate this around the county since this group
has been so successful," she said.
In the past year, the group has distributed about 300 T-shirts at
school and at the Johnson County Fair last summer. They've also
spoken with students at Wood Elementary and met with Iowa City
councilors about the alcohol issue.
The students hope to continue their work with a commercial as part
of national Students Against Drunk Driving month, said senior Rodney
Anderson, 17.
After conducting a survey of students last year about what approach
would affect them the most, the students decided to feature
fictional stories about teens who used alcohol and drugs and were
losing friends and opportunities.
"We tried to cover every part that would be affected," said junior
Jammie Hillard, 17.
Anderson said he hopes to air the commercial on local television
before City High's prom April 21.
"We want to do it before prom because that's when people get wasted," he said.
Henri Harper, City High's juvenile court liaison and at-risk
facilitator, said the students in T.A.A.D. have had a positive
effect at City High.
"They live what they preach," he said.
"They have lived as an example of what they're talking about."
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