STUDENTS STANDING UP AGAINST DRUGS FOR RED RIBBON WEEK

Sunglasses in the classroom; baseball caps during school hours;
inside-out clothing.

Students' ensembles may appear mildly rebellious this week, but they
are, in fact, a sign of solidarity against a dangerous foe: drugs.

Throughout Collier County this week, students are participating in a
variety of spirit activities to promote a drug-free attitude during
Red Ribbon Week. From wearing wacky socks on "Sock it to drugs day"
to sharing stuffed animals on "We do hugs not drugs day," students at
all participating schools have embraced the daily themes, while
taking to heart a serious message.

"We want (students) to understand what this week is about. That's why
we're showing informational videos and having talks," said Michelle
Morales, an Oakridge Middle School Parent Teacher Organization member.

"It's not just about wearing fun clothes - we're doing this for a reason."

The first Red Ribbon Week was organized in 1988 by the National
Family Partnership in memory of a former U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration agent, Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was killed by drug
traffickers three years earlier.

For the last two years the Collier County Sheriff's Office and the
Substance Abuse Coalition of Collier County have been teaming up with
local schools to host Red Ribbon Week.

Every day this week the coalition and the Sheriff's Office will
travel to 20 local elementary schools with a patrol car, which
fifth-grade Collier County DARE students can sign with a red marker
to pledge their commitment to a drug-free life.

The car will then be displayed during this weekend's Swamp Buggy Parade.

"The overall goal is to provide community awareness of substance
abuse," said Amanda Smith, executive director of the coalition. "We
really want to make parents aware of substance abuse and let them be
the role models to their children to not abuse substances.

"They need to be clear and consistent in their opposition."

Oakridge students Ali Block, 11, Elsie Aviles, 12, and Steven
Morales, 10, aren't receiving any mixed messages about drugs. Decked
out in neckties featuring Daffy Duck, ladybugs and classic stripes in
celebration of "Tie up drugs day," the trio agreed they will remember
Red Ribbon Week activities for years to come.

"The next time I see someone with a tie, and there's somebody right
next to me asking me to take drugs, I will remember this week, and
say no," said Steven, who is the son of Michelle Morales. "I won't
let my friends or anyone in my family take drugs."

"It makes me happy to see others wearing ties, because they won't do
drugs, too," Ali added. "More people will live from not doing drugs."

There is even more riding on the line for students at Lely High
School. Student Council members want their classmates to be drug-free
not only for their health, but for the reputation of the school.

"Lely has a bad reputation now, and I don't know where it comes
from," junior Maddy Childs, 16, said. "It's really important to me
that people see us for the school that we are, because we are better
than they think we are."

Maddy and her friends handed out Twizzlers in the cafeteria Tuesday,
along with the message: "Don't get twisted in drugs." On Monday,
students performed an original rap song in the courtyard with the
message: "Stop the violence, y'all. Stop the drugs."

Substance Abuse Coalition officials said one issue they are focusing
on this year is huffing, the intentional abuse of inhalants, an
increasingly common practice among Collier County middle school students.

Smith said that 21 percent of middle school students in Collier
County have abused inhalants in the past.

"PAM in your kitchen cabinet is something that kids are huffing,"
Smith said. "That can of Dust-Off that you use to clean your
keyboard, yeah, they're huffing that too."

Megan Joyce, president of the Lely High School Student Council, and
Council member Kayla Obrenski said they can't force students not to
do drugs. All they can do is hope their classmates will take their
message seriously.

"Some people may blow it off, but I think some will take it into
consideration," Kayla, 17, said.

"This was just something fun that we could do, but we hope people
will listen too," Megan, 17, added.

Other activities planned for Red Ribbon Week include "Wear red day"
at several schools today, Hawaiian-themed "Lei off drugs day" at
Vineyards Elementary School on Thursday and cookouts and pep rallies
at some schools Friday.

On Nov. 1, the coalition is bringing in Bob Stutman, a DEA agent and
substance abuse expert, to speak to the public about substance abuse
issues. The event is open to the public and is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at
the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Administrative Center, 5775 Osceola Trail.

For more information visit www.drugfreecollier.org, or call the
coalition at 377-0535.

Staff writer Ryan Mills contributed to this report.