Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In response, the Parkway School District created the Safe and Drug Free Council.

Each Parkway School has a leader and eight students which make up the Board of Directors. Leaders serve as a “point person” for their school in the recruiting, training and mentoring of teen tutors involved in High School Heroes, Peer Teaching and other SADF programs/events.

“The programs strive to only tell students the facts without blatantly insulting those who make different choices, they strive to educate people about drugs and alcohol rather than criticizing those who use them,” senior Joe Guccione said.

The Board of Directors have monthly meetings where they strategize and reflect on previous months’ behaviors. Students lead the discussion and devise methods that engage more students.

“Through their discussions the students realized that middle and high school students are much more attentive and willing to listen if you don’t preach at them. Thus the program plans to organize events like badminton nights and ‘safe friday night’ and spread the message through these events.

“By hosting fun events we can hopefully make the safe and drug free program more popular,” Coach Tommie Rowe said.

There are multiple programs under the SADF which includes Peer Teaching, Stars Leadership Academy, Packing For Now and Later and TryPOD. Each program addresses a specific problem; one deals with marijuana,while others deal with a combination of drugs and how to deal with the stress of high school and life in general.

“The fact that each program is different helps bring some fun and variety to a topic many shy away from or avoid altogether,” Guccione said.

The target of the SADF are not only to educate the student body about drugs and alcohol, but also to let them know the SADF leaders and contacts.

“We really want to show that there are a lot more high schoolers living a safe and drug free lifestyle than most think, that being said we hope to shatter the age old belief that ‘everyone’s doing it,’” Guccione said.

The SADF hopes that by planning fun weekend events they can communicate that drugs are not needed to have fun.

“The board believes that, as a school, if we take a stand to change West’s community so it is more aware of those who are involved in the programs and that a level of respect will be developed for the kids that do live safe and drug free,” junior Andrew Bonnett said.