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Day 1 PSA:  The following is a message from your Student Assistance Team: 

Most young people start out in life wanting to stay off drugs. It’s a no-brainer.

Drugs are terrible for your physical and mental health, they’re expensive, and they’re illegal!   

Parents, teachers, and health care workers all warn you against drugs, and everything they say about them, we know deep down to be true.   

Small kids go out in the world ready to "just say no." The problem is, as they get older, young people encounter lots of confusing messages. 

Staying clean and healthy and off drugs and alcohol can be hard to do with all of the references on TV, in movies and in our music.   They make it look like fun, but they don’t always focus on the problems that drugs and alcohol cause to people’s lives.   

The peer pressure can be intense, because no one wants to be left out of a good time.    It can be a challenge to think of what to say besides just "no" that will save your image as well as saving your health and life.  

Some alternative suggestions when someone invites you to try drugs is to say, “No, lets do something else instead, like….play video games, see a  movie, or whatever…Anything but sitting around getting stoned.  Boring…!!”  

That way you send a message that drugs are not worth your time but time with your friend is. 

Day 2 PSA:  The following is a message from your Student Assistance Team: 

Where there’s smoke there’s fire. Just being around drug users can be hazardous to your health. If the people around you are using drugs, you’re exposed to a variety of dangers. 

You’ve probably heard of "guilt by association." Spend enough time with drug users, and you’re likely to be around when they get in trouble. As an "innocent bystander," you could be the victim of a drug-related robbery, mugging, or other assault.

People who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs are more likely to become a victim of crime, and if you’re with them, you could get hurt too.   People who are intoxicated behave in ways that make them attractive targets. They also may not be aware of subtle danger signs and put themselves at risk.   

If you can’t talk someone out of doing drugs or alcohol, don’t put yourself in danger, get away from them. 

If you know someone who is putting themselves in dangerous situations, tell someone.    

One of the saddest things is to lose someone you care about, because they were being stupid.   

But what’s worse is to lose your own life, because you didn’t want to lose a friend.  

Drawing the Line on Under 21 Alcohol Use

THE CHALLENGE: to create a 30 second commercial and to write an article.

School affiliated clubs or organizations from any public or private high/middle school in Montgomery County may submit one entry. Awards will be given to the designated school group: For High School: First Place: $1000 and a trophy and Second Place: $500 and a trophy and For Middle School: First Place: $500 and a trophy and Second Place: $250 and a trophy. The winning commercials will be submitted to Comcast, Access Community TV, M. C. Cable TV & MCPS Instructional TV for airing (director’s discretion). The accompanying, supportive article will be submitted to local newspapers. Drawing the Line will recognize the winners and all participants at a community awards ceremony on March 20, 2007. The trophies and cash awards will be distributed at that time.

 8 How media influences teen thoughts about underage drinking

The following is a message from you Student Assistance Team:

People have lot of wacky names for alcohol:  Booze...Bubbly...Firewater.   That's a lot of creative energy wasted on the substance that kills more people than all illegal drugs combined.

Alcohol is a powerful, addictive drug.             

Alcohol routinely gives people headaches and makes them sick to their stomachs, but a little vomit is the least of their worries.  

Alcohol can cause big-time trouble with parents, school, work, and the law.

Teenagers who drink have lower grades in school, may lose their jobs, and can be arrested for purchasing, possessing, or drinking alcohol.  

Drinking alcohol pickles people's brains, so they make bad choices. People who drink are more likely to have unsafe, unprotected sex, and to become pregnant.   

Not to mention that when people drink, they more frequently get into fights and commit other crimes.  

Alcohol causes problems; it doesn't solve them. Make the healthy choice not to drink.

Day 4 PSA:

 All prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines come with warning labels and directions for dosage and use.  It is important to pay attention to these warnings and directions, because if they are used incorrectly, they may have serious side effects, and cause permanent damage to your body, or even death.  Never share medicines or prescription drugs with other people.  Parents may give medications to the school nurse to distribute as prescribed by a doctor. Students may never bring any of these products to school.

Day 5 PSA:

Kids know what can happen when they smoke, or use illegal drugs or alcohol.                    

They can:    (flash student responses below)

• get arrested
• get sick
• get bad grades
• get kicked out of sports
• lose good friends
• lose brain cells
• go broke
• get in trouble with parents
• get kicked out of school
• die or cause someone else to die

 What are things you can do instead of doing drugs or alcohol?   (flash student responses below)

• Sports
• Art
• Video games
• Movies
• Join a youth group
• Shop
• Music
• Volunteer
• Jog
• Afterschool activities

Stay smart, don’t start!   You don’t need drugs to have fun.