EDUCATION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Hill Red Ribbon Week Activities

There will be an information booth at the Hill Clinic, Monday-Friday
9 a.m.-3 p.m. in front of the pharmacy.

Goodie bags and information handouts will be given to Hill pediatric
patients throughout the week.

Drug prevention presentation planned at Wasatch Elementary, Oct. 24
at 1:30 p.m.

Drug prevention presentation at the Hill Youth Center, Oct 25 at 4 p.m.

For more information on drug and alcohol abuse, contact the Family
Advocacy Center at 777-3497.

For more than 20 years, red ribbons have been seen across America
during the last week of October as part of the Red Ribbon campaign,
one of the oldest and largest drug prevention programs in the nation.

"The overall point of Red Ribbon Week is to impact society as a
whole," said Capt. Dahvyn Osher, Hill Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Program manager. "The idea is that through
education we really can make a difference."

The campaign, which is focused mostly on children, was started when
drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered Kiki Camarena, a Drug
Enforcement Administration agent, in 1985. Red ribbons served as a
symbol of intolerance toward the use of illegal drugs. Even two
decades later this campaign is still important, said Captain Osher.

"Drug and alcohol abuse has not gone away," he said. "Education and
prevention go hand and hand. Red Ribbon Week educates kids, schools
and parents. It's about creating a positive peer culture."

This year's Red Ribbon Week presents an opportunity for parents and
schools to talk to children about the realities of drug use. Captain
Osher said many children believe that drug use among their peers is
prevalent and try to live up to this idea.

"Forty percent of students believe that than 21 percent of their
student peers used marijuana in the past year, only 9 actually use,"
he said. "Also, 65 percent of students believe that more than 41
percent of their student peers drank alcohol in the past year and
only 30 percent did."

By expelling these myths through education, Captain Osher said that
it will help to shape social norms early on and prevent drug use.

"It really is vital -- especially in this day and age where drug use
starts younger and younger -- to start talking to kids in elementary
school," he said.

Although the program's goal is to get children to commit to living
drug-free lives, education is also needed for adults.

"Airmen also report that they think their peers drink larger
quantities and more often than they actually do," said Staff Sgt.
Tracy Davidson, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program NCOIC.

Drug and alcohol abuse in the military not only hurts the individual
but can have a much further reaching impact.

"Even coming into work hung over is going to impact the mission,"
Sergeant Davidson said. "There is a lot to be lost if you are not
drinking responsibly, and, if you are choosing illegal drugs, your
career is on the line."

Even a small alcohol-related incident can equal lost duty hours and
negative career impacts.

"(Airmen) need to recognize that you don't have to be an alcoholic to
really negatively affect your life," Captain Osher said. "Getting in
a fight, car accidents, DUIs and missing work -- that is all tied to
alcohol use and poor decision making when you drink an excessive
amount in a short amount of time."

Hoping to prevent alcohol related problems, Airmen are briefed when
they arrive at Hill about responsible alcohol use.

"Just as parents play a huge role (with prevention), Airmen are
looking up to their senior leadership," said Sergeant Davidson. "They
watch how (leaders) drink when they are TDY and at the clubs.
Leadership really needs to help set the social norms and let the
Airmen realize you can drink responsibly."

More than 80 million people across the nation will be participating
in Red Ribbon week activities, pledging to live drug-free lives.

"Red Ribbon week is an opportunity for everybody to create a
healthier society in general," Captain Osher said. "A lot of our
young Airmen are potential parents of future Airmen. We know there
tends to be tradition in families about military service. If we can
impact one generation, it can help the next generation to make better choices."