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Just Say Yes to Anti-Drugs
Keep Your Child Drug-Free
By Kendeyl Johansen
Consequently, Laurel can rely on art to lift her mood and build her confidence. "If I have a bad day at school or get into a fight with a friend I come home and do an art project. Art takes stress out of my life and makes me feel good again," she says. "My mom doesn't want me using drugs, and that matters a lot, but I realize doing drugs is my own choice and I choose 'no'. I don't want to mess up my life."
Her twin sister, Ashley, agrees. "I don't have any reason for drugs. Music is my anti-drug and learning to play something on my drums and then playing it really good makes me happy," she explains. "If you want to keep your kids off drugs my advice is to find something that they're interested in and help them focus on it. My mom lets me take private drum and piano lessons because she knows music is important to me."
Like many of their peers, the Willoughby twins have bought into the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign from the Office of Drug Control Policy. Both teens learned about anti-drugs from seeing television and print advertisements. These anti-drug ads featured eight kids from across the country that were chosen to tell their peers what their anti-drugs are.
One of the teens in the commercials, Heather Mitchell, 18, of Pembroke, Mass., chose "My Future" as her anti-drug. In her commercial an animated Heather "tries on" various personalities (like a cheerleader and a hop-hop kid) and then becomes herself again – rejecting all stereotypes including trying drugs. Mitchell plans to turn her fight against drug and alcohol abuse into a lifelong crusade, and her goal is to work within the Drug Enforcement Agency.
In an interview on Freevibe.com (a website developed by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and key educators to help kids understand the dangers of substance abuse and make responsible life decisions) Mitchell says, "My anti-drug 'my Future,' consists of my outward strong stance and personal convictions pertaining to drug use, and not being afraid to voice this. I sincerely credit this to my parents." She adds that her parents made it clear to her at a young age that drugs and alcohol are unacceptable and that they are always there for her with advice and direction when she has questions.
