STUDENTS PREP ANTI-DRUG AD CAMPAIGN

They're Trying To Keep Their Message Positive.

Students from Emmet and Charlevoix counties, who are involved in
SAFE (substance abuse free environment) Youth, are working together
to create a local ad campaign which they hope will inspire and
motivate students to stay away from drugs and alcohol.

"We want to be a positive enforcer and a positive influence for our
peers," said Mackenzie Macksey, a 16-year-old sophomore from Boyne City.

The students, who represent Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Pellston,
Charlevoix, Boyne Falls and Boyne City high schools, recently
attended Camp Daggett to shoot pictures of their ropes-course
experience for posters, as well as shoot video for a public service
announcement they plan to run at movie theaters in Otsego, Antrim,
Charlevoix and Emmet counties.

Rough drafts of the students' posters show SAFE Youth in their
helmets and harnesses at Camp Daggett's ropes course, along with
some of their taglines, which include: "Teamwork: Together We Can
Keep Each Other SAFE," "Harness Life Soberly" and "Hangin' Sober."

"It's saying you don't need drugs to have fun," said Morgan Harding,
a 16-year-old Boyne City junior.

"It's like getting high on life naturally," said Cade Ingleson, a
16-year-old sophomore at Petoskey High School.

Each poster that is made by students will be unique to their school
and their community.

"Our peers will see someone they know (in the ad)," Mackenzie said.

"That way they can relate to it," Morgan added. "I'm hoping everyone
gets motivated by what we're doing, recognizes the issue and can see
there are ways around substance abuse."

Cade said he hopes the posters and SAFE Youth's public service
announcement - which will both be distributed this fall - will help
to keep his peers from making bad choices.

"I'd like to see kids look at it and maybe it will make them think
twice," he said. "I've seen what (drugs and alcohol) can do, it can
hurt people a lot if you get addicted to the stuff ... this just
shows there's better things to do in your life."

Sue Pulaski, prevention specialist for the Health Department of
Northwest Michigan and member of SAFE, said once the poster
advertisements are complete, SAFE Youth will submit one to FACE with
the hope that their message will go national.

"We're really excited about this," she said. "I think (the students)
have had a ton of energy, and they've come up with great ideas -
it's been great to work with them."

Tricia Graham, co-chair of SAFE, said she believes that by students
putting together this ad campaign, their peers will be more likely to listen.

"It's better if it's student-driven - young people listen to young
people, and adults listen to them as well," she said. "I think (the
campaign) is good because it empowers youth who don't want to use.
This gives the message that it's cool not to use."

The idea for the positive campaign came from the "Life at its best,
add nothing" advertisements, which were created by FACE, a national
advertising company.