Panthers Take Charge Substance Abuse Prevention

Ashlyn Minor

From March third to ninth, the halls of Dunnville Secondary School (DSS) were filled with healthy messages and drug and alcohol abuse prevention stations.  The school’s Panthers Take Charge (PTC) group put on a substance abuse prevention week for the school which consisted of many positive things for the students.  Two presentations were given in the cafeteria by young former local students who spoke on their personal experiences with drug use and abuse.  There was a “why drive high?” display, which demonstrated to the students how drugs severely impair your driving, as well as a tobacco trivia display from the health unit.  A station was also set up with “drunk goggles” which simulated the wearer's vision as if they had too much to drink, and a ball which is with difficulty, passed between two goggle wearers.  Lastly, free granola bars with healthy messages were passed out to the students with messages such as “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference, keep it positive!” and “Tobacco hurts everyone.”  PTC member, Taelore Hanly said, “Hearing those stories from the local students was definitely the most effective part of the week.  I think it affects a lot of people.  Hearing their stories was both heartbreaking and effective for our theme of substance abuse prevention.”