PROGRAM PUSHES POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES

ANTLERS -- Wade Snow believes adults must do more than tell children
to say no to drugs, alcohol and tobacco. They need to give them
positive alternatives.

"Say no to drugs, it doesn't work. Tell me what I can say yes to to
put the drugs down," said Snow, co-coordinator of the PUSH! for
Positive Action program. "If you don't have any ideas, don't tell them
not to do anything."

PUSH! for Positive Action is an alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention
program operating in schools and churches in Pushmataha County in
southeastern Oklahoma. Based on an acclaimed national curriculum, the
program raises awareness about the dangers of these substances. But it
also offers a character-building component and opportunities for
students to get involved in positive activities such as 4-H, mentoring
and art.

It was one of five model programs recognized at the recent Adolescent
Health Forum presented by the Community Council of Central Oklahoma.
Eighty forum participants, representing groups including the Office of
Juvenile Affairs, Girl Scouts, Oklahoma City Public Schools and
Oklahoma City-County Health Department, were given the opportunity to
explore the model programs at the forum, said Nancy Del Regno,
executive director of the Community Council of Central Oklahoma.

"There are great programs that exist that could be expanded. You don't
have to go out to invent new programs," she said.

PUSH! was the only model program from outside Oklahoma County. She
said she thinks the program could be effective in the metro area.

Linda Kay Green, counselor at Moyers School in Pushmataha County, said
the program has made a difference with her students. She has noticed a
positive change in many students' attitudes and actions since the
program came into the small school.

The program has been bringing presentations and projects to Antlers,
Moyers, Clayton and Rattan schools for about a year, Snow said. It is
sponsored by the Pushmataha County Health Department and Turning Point
Coalition and funded through a three-year grant from the Department of
Mental Health.

The strength of PUSH! is its multifaceted and flexible approach, said
program co-coordinator April Leathers. It is not the typical "don't
do drugs" talk and demonstration, but works to get students thinking
about the future, their dreams and the decisions they need to make to
reach their goals.

"We talk about alcohol, tobacco or drugs ... but we teach a lot of
things adults need -- self-respect, self-esteem -- so maybe they
won't want to do those harmful things," Leathers said.

She and Snow give anti-drug demonstrations, complete with visual aids
like "drunken goggles," glasses that show the affect of alcohol on
perceptions, and "Mr. Dip Lip," a plastic incarnation of a mouth
cancer caused by oral tobacco. They talk to students about marketing
and societal pressures and the possible negative consequences of
drinking and smoking.

But they also incorporate character education, teaching the students
respect, integrity and honesty. They work to instill confidence into
the youngsters, many of whom come from broken homes or poverty, so
they will have the courage to stand up for their beliefs. Leathers
said she tries to debunk the idea that they have to be rebellious to
be popular and downplay the importance of cliques.

"A lot of these kids don't believe in themselves whatsoever. A lot of
these kids need a pat on the back ... just a little reinforcement now
and then," said Leathers, who has an English degree and once trained
to be a teacher. "I think they just learn a lot more than just drug
prevention."

For high school students, the program includes opportunities to mentor
younger children as Positive Action Leaders, or PALS. The PALS put on
anti-drug skits for elementary and middle-school students and are
encouraged to be positive role models.

"That gives them a leadership role and a responsibility on them. They
realize these kids are looking up to them. It kind of puts a good
pressure on them," said Snow, a former youth minister. "Responsibility
is the greatest thing for leadership."

The PALS are given some ownership of the program by creating, planning
and participating in special activities, he said. In Moyers, the
students planned a mock drunken driving accident scene, a Reality
House with live scenes illustrating the dangers of drugs and a 1950s
sock hop for the Great American Smoke-Out, a national anti-smoking
event.

Snow is constantly fighting the prevailing student attitude that there
is nothing to do in a small town except party, drink and use drugs.

"We've got to figure out some way to change that mind-set and then
give them something positive to do," he said, adding positive
alternatives are particularly important for students who don't play
sports.

In addition to PALS, students can get involved in 4-H and Students
Working Against Tobacco, a student-led anti-tobacco organization,
through the program. Youths at Rattan schools used a video to learn to
dance and then created their own dance routines, traveling with Snow
to perform at another school.

PUSH! also will offer this year a summer arts program for students
nationwide. The summer arts program will include performing arts,
visual arts and crafts sessions, along with character-building
activities. Snow said he hopes to get the PALS and older county
residents involved with teaching the youngsters.

"I'm really believing that there's kids here that I'm going to be
buying their paintings in the future," Snow said, adding the arts
sessions will provide the rural youths some cultural enrichment.

The fledgling program has received positive feedback from teachers,
counselors and administrators and has prompted positive changes in
some students' attitudes and behavior. But Snow is determined not to
be overly confident, to keep the creative ideas flowing into the program.

"I think one of the things we can't be is complacent. ... I promise
you we don't have all the answers. We're trying to find more as we
go," he said. "We have to create some way to stop the pain, the
addiction and the destruction."