Reseda Kids Tell Kids to Just Say No

At a time when children are inundated with celebrity admonitions to stay
away from drugs, the typical antidrug message seemed to take on new
meaning for Blythe Street Elementary School students Tuesday because it
came from kids much like themselves.

More than 300 students gathered on the school playground to hear Cleveland
High athletes, cheerleaders and student government leaders talk about the
dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.

The gathering was part of Blythe's celebration of Red Ribbon Week, a
national campaign during which participants wear red ribbons and take part
in antidrug programs.

The Cleveland students were members of the school's AdoptaSchool program,
which sponsors drugawareness programs on campus and at five adopted area
elementary schools.

At Tuesday's hourlong rally, kindergarten through fifthgrade students
shouted the AdoptaSchool motto: "If you like what you see, stay
drugfree!" They also tossed footballs, dribbled basketballs and kicked
soccer balls with the older students. They even tried to perform splits
with the cheerleaders.

Following the rally, Cleveland students visited classrooms to talk
oneonone with youngsters about drug addiction and alcohol abuse.

It is often during a questionandanswer segment when younger students open
up about their drug experiences, said Yolanda Moats a group member.

"One time, a fifthgrader was saying stuff to me about drugs and I was
shocked," she said. "They know about cocaine and street names for drugs.
They talk about how their parents smoke and how they don't like the way the
smoke smells."

"I think it's important to warn them about the dangers of drugs while they
are still at such a young age," said Keishawna Wallace, a basketball team
member. "We want to let them know that there are alternatives to drugs."

Copyright Los Angeles Times