RED RIBBON WEEK ALERTS KIDS TO DANGERS OF DRUG USE

Recent statistics about drugs and alcohol worry guidance counselor
Connie Sivertson, so this week she sounded the alarm as part of Craig
Middle School's drug awareness week.

Information can make it easier for students to say no, she
said.

Sivertson and other faculty members led discussions about drugs and
alcohol, rewarded students for wearing bracelets with anti-drug themes
and helped them create anti-drug posters.

Most students wore red shirts to show their opposition to drugs -- and
to be eligible for prizes.

In a homeroom class Wednesday, Sivertson queried about 20
eighth-graders on whether alcohol is a drug, what influences are
important in their lives and why they view some drugs
differently.

She asked how many students had talked about drugs with their parents
recently.

Only three raised their hands.

"Hey, you've got to ask them," she told the students. "They're the
ones who gave you those values you have."

Craig's "Red Ribbon Week" combines a constant message that drugs are
bad with information about drug use and its dangers.

Eighth-grader Kristin Olson said she steers clear of drugs and
expressed surprised to learn the statistics about how many people her
age use them.

Kristin knows of Craig students who use drugs, she said, and hopes
that Red Ribbon Week's lessons get through to them.

"You know it's around," she said. "I hope it changes some
people."

Kristin and classmate Emily Steadham said they enjoyed the chance to
win prizes but called it secondary to the message.

"I hope people stop doing drugs," Emily said.

All the school's events and lessons tied in to three
themes:

* There are better things to do than drugs.

* It's not cool to do drugs.

* Friends don't let friends do drugs.

Students received bracelets bearing one of the three
slogans.

One sixth-grader pleaded with Sivertson to trade in her bracelet for
one with the message about friendship. The girl explained that her
friends already watch out for one another, and she wanted the bracelet
to demonstrate that, Sivertson said.

Many parents don't think they need to talk with middle school students
about drugs because they're too young, Sivertson said. Statistics --
and the experience at Craig -- show that parents who wait are behind
the curve.

"I think we've all had the thought that they're not thinking of (doing
drugs) until seventh or eighth grade," she said, "but we get
sixth-graders who live with it."

Faculty members worry about their students.

"There's a real problem with teenage alcohol use," Sivertson said.