Drug Prevention Message Told by Former Users, Dealers
Armstrong Senior High SADD Club students, District Magisterial Judge Gary DeComo and District Attorney Scott Andreassi welcomed three teens from the Grove City residential treatment facility George Jr. Republic to the school Friday to give drug prevention messages.
by Jonathan Weaver
A trio of former drug dealers and addicts met and talked with Armstrong Senior High students Friday to make sure Armstrong students don’t make the same mistake.
Friday morning, the teens from George Jr. Republic – a private, residential treatment facility in Grove City - talked with students as part of District Judge Gary DeComo’s “Drugs Kill Dreams” message.
“We came to the conclusion that when we talk to kids up to ninth grade, I have their attention with my video and sports people. But, when they get a little bit older, they like to listen to kids their own age. We’ve had a lot of luck and a lot of good responses from the program when we bring kids in that are in trouble,” Judge DeComo said.
During his opening discussion, DeComo said high school students are “old enough to make the right decisions.”
A video testimony was also shown regarding Levi Grafton – a former Kittanning Wildcat who died of a drug overdose in 2015.
“Addiction’s a life sentence – it doesn’t just go away,” Judge DeComo said. “It’s a lifelong road of recovery.”
The three men from the Philadelphia area all told stories of their personal experience with drugs and how it impacted their lives.
One even said he started selling drugs at the age of 13, even though he personally abstained from heroin and cocaine.
“I didn’t care how old you were, who you were – I sold pregnant females drugs before, and now that keeps me up at night,” one of the teens told students. “It helps me to sleep when I know I can come here and talk to people and hopefully change the future.”
An 18-year-old told students that he can’t stop thinking about the day he sold heroin to a first-time 14-year-old user who died just three blocks after the purchase.
“There is no controlling heroin,” the teen said. “Don’t let peer pressure determine who you are.”
Two of the students are now in technical schools.
Judge DeComo has been working with George Jr. Republic for about a decade to try and reach local high school students.
Judge DeComo and Andreassi will start visiting elementary schools this week and also hope to visit West Shamokin students before the end of the school year.
Senior Breanna McGaughey, of Worthington, explained why the high school SADD Club organized Friday morning’s assembly.
“I think it gives people who are in those situations a reality check that things can happen,” McGaughey said. “It’s a bigger deal than people think it is.”
Junior Madison Veri of Kittanning, said she thought Armstrong students could relate because of those who are also influenced by marijuana.
“Hopefully, (Armstrong students) think ‘If I continue doing this, that could be me,’” Veri said.
Life Skills Support Teacher and SADD Club Advisor Melissa Bowser – a teacher for 14 years in the Armstrong School District – said the teenage testimonies were also effective.
SADD students will also talk to West Hills Primary students in May and try to open eyes to students about drunk driving before the inaugural prom.
Armstrong School District | jweaver March 21, 2016
By Elderton Parent, March 21, 2016 @ 9:24 AM
I think speaking to WSHS students should be a priority along with the older elementary students.
Why are the SADD students speaking to West Hills Primary students about drunk driving before the Prom?