ANTI-DRUG RALLY GIVES A POWERFUL MESSAGE

LEWISVILLE -- An old message got a fresh new look at Youthnited, an
anti-drug rally in Shallowford Square on Saturday.

More than 200 teens and parents turned out for fun with a purpose.
Organizers staged the event to let teens-agers see what they say is the
ugly truth about substance use and abuse.

"Who here wants to go to prison?" asked speaker David Holland, a former
addict and current inmate at the Cherry Street Correctional Center in
Winston-Salem. "Nobody wants to go to prison. Drugs will get a hold of you
and will not let go."

All activity stopped and the audience was silent as Holland spoke. He told
his story of growing up in Winston-Salem, tasting success in business and
family, and losing it all because of drugs and alcohol.

Holland and another inmate, Timothy Smith, sent the message of the perils
of drug use as part of Operation Think Smart. The two have been in prison
for 16 and 20 years, serving time for second-degree murder.

"Listen to the people who love you the most," Smith said. "Your heroes are
your parents. When you take drugs, you don't just hurt yourself, you hurt
your whole family and those who love and care about you."

The rally was put together by a group of volunteers from all over the
community and was led by Megan Denton and Ernest Brown from Trinity Friends
Church. Organizers agreed that the key to prevention is awareness and being
involved - the sooner the better. Both inmates said they began using drugs
and alcohol before the age of 13.

"(Hearing) the inmates made a difference," said Cheryl Key, a mother of two
teen-age boys who attended the rally. "There is a lot of peer pressure, and
this reinforces the message I'm giving them at home."

The day-long event was buzzing with activity. An elaborate skateboard park,
provided by Immanuel Baptist Church, had kids waiting in line for their
turn. Volleyball games and basketball games were going and rock music was
blaring. The Christian rock band Subtotal, and WBFJ FM took turns belting
out the music.

Using a golf cart and special goggles, teen-agers maneuvered around traffic
cones, simulating what it would be like to drive under the influence of
drugs or alcohol.

"Wow," said David Partridge, 12, after taking his turn at the simulator.
"Just one drink could really change your life. I am never going to drive
drunk."

The positive response, and the importance of the message, has organizers
hoping this will be an annual event, Brown said. He said that seeing
parents and teen-agers out together is the key to keeping the teen-agers
away from drugs and alcohol.