Fort Scott students say no to school's 'drug monster'

Rayma Silvers/Tribune Photo Students at USD 234 schools are confronted by the "drug monster" during an anti-drug assembly last week as part of Red Ribbon Week.

When local elementary school students discovered drugs in their school, they wasted no time in disposing of them in the trash.

Students in the USD 234 elementary schools celebrated Red Ribbon Week on Oct. 23-31. As part of this drug awareness campaign, Fort Scott Police School Resource Officer Toby Nighswonger visited with fourth- and fifth-grade students at both Eugene Ware Elementary and Winfield Scott Elementary about the dangers of illegal drug usage. During the "Together We Can Trash Drugs" presentations the students participated in a "We Trash Drugs" cheer with Fort Scott High School cheerleaders Alanna Masterson, Holly Schnickels, Amanda McDaniel, Erica Davis and Kaylie Harper.

In addition, the students were visited by the "Drug Monster" and given instructions on how best to get rid of it. As the Drug Monster began approaching one of the FSHS cheerleaders, the other cheerleaders ran up beside their friend and commanded the Drug Monster to go away. Nighswonger explained to the students the importance of sticking together in the fight against drugs. When the Drug Monster offered a pretend cigarette to two students, the rest of the students raised their voices in protest, scaring the Drug Monster away.

Next the students stood in a circle while the cheerleaders placed pieces of paper with pictures of drugs on them at each student's feet. When given the okay, the students snatched the drugs off the floor, crumpled them and threw them in the trash.

Fort Scott Police K9 Officer Lance Fabrizius and the Fort Scott Police Service Dog Silvy also made an appearance at the drug awareness presentation. Fabrizius and Silvy demonstrated for the students the K9's ability to detect the presence of an illegal substance, showing the students how well Fabrizius and Silvy work together as a team in the fight against drugs in the local area. The students were given an opportunity to ask Fabrizius questions about Silvy.

Nighswonger said the informational assemblies were used to teach the students the importance of sticking together as a class to insure every child in USD 234 remains drug free.

Also at the assembly, the students viewed a short "Faces of Meth" video which was provided by the Kansas Bureau of Investigations. The video showed the students the effects meth has on those who are addicted to the drug.

According to statistical information provided by Nighswonger, two-thirds of the youth in America have tried an illegal drug before they finished high school. When alcohol is added into the numbers, the statistics raise to 90 percent of high school students who have tried illegal drugs or alcohol. The leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 15-24 is drunk driving. Underage drinking can have devastating effects on teenagers, according to the information.

"Underage drinking costs the United States more than $58 billion every year," Nighswonger's information said. "Forty percent of those who stated drinking at age 13 or younger developed alcohol dependence later in life. Ten percent of teens who began drinking after the age of 17 developed dependence. Teens that drink are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than teens who never consume alcohol."

In 2005, 19.7 million people in the United States used an illicit drug. A number that is equal to the population of Australia. In addition, more than one million teenagers were treated for substance abuse last year, according to the statistics provided by Nighswonger.

"In every high school classroom, there are at least three students who are abusing prescription drugs," the statistics read. "More than 60 percent of teens said that drugs were sold, used or kept at their school."

According to the statistics, teenagers who have parents who talk to them on a regular basis about the dangers of using drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than teenagers whose parents do not talk with them about avoiding drugs.

According to Nighswonger, USD 234 elementary school counselors Denise Umphenour and Jackie Harvey helped in the organization of all Red Ribbon Week events. In addition, Fort Scott High School art teacher Ellen Kendrick along with her Drawing and Painting I class created props for the drug awareness presentation.

"I would like to acknowledge all of the people that have been working so hard to insure the success of this assembly," Nighswonger said.