HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: An important week for students

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By Kylie Hyde, Clayton Ridge freshman

GUTTENBERG -  Red Ribbon Week is important to parents, educators and communities because that is when we learn about drug abuse and talk about what the causes and effects are.

Drug abuse will stay with us until we choose to end it. In order to stop this, we must work together to say no. In order to do that, we need  everyone vigilant and aware that people are watching.

Statistics from the Drug Enforcement Administration show there were almost 28,723 people in the U.S. who died because of drug-induced causes in 2003, almost eight times the number lost in the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.  Since 2005, 242,200 people have visited emergency rooms because of marijuana use.

As of 2006, on any given day in the United States, nearly 1.2 million teenagers smoked cigarettes, 631,000 drank alcohol, 586,000 used marijuana, 50,000 sniffed inhalants, 27,000 used hallucinogens, 13,000 used cocaine and 3,800 used heroin.

Red Ribbon Week is a way to push aside negative thoughts and think about what good lies ahead for students -  college, career, family. Think about the positives, not the dark side.

At Clayton Ridge, everybody is participating in the fight against drugs by participating in Red Ribbon Week. Much like homecoming, dress plays a part in this event. From wearing red and jeans, to sunglasses, Halloween costumes and Eagle Pride wear, students, faculty and staff can show their support for living drug free.

When you think about it, all these things have something in common - they are telling you that you don't have to ruin your life by doing something you'll regret in the future. If you make the right choices in your life, you won't have to worry about negative consequences. You are in control, so don't think  you can't make the right decision. One moment's fun isn't worth your future. Make your life count and do what you need to do in order to succeed.

Drugs and alcohol abuse are problems schools aren't going to be able to stop easily. This is why they are stressing what you have to do to keep your body healthy. Keeping your body healthy means you never try the things you know are bad for you.

Every day for Red Ribbon Week is a reminder of why you should choose to be drug free. You have to say no. If you do that, you are on the road to success.

Don't let families members battling these troubles influence your decision and if you are stressed, go on a bike ride, a jog around town or do other things you like. If you think about things more clearly, you will not want to go turn yourself into a person nobody is going to want to hang around.

When you make those bad decisions, you don't think clearly. Get the help you need in order to think about college or your career. Think about the things in life that really matter and challenge yourself to be a better person.