Kids Tell Kids to Just Say No

At a time when children are inundated with celebrity admonitions to stay away from drugs, the typical anti-drug message seemed to take on new meaning for Blythe Street Elementary School students Tuesday because it came from kids much like themselves.

More than 300 students gathered on the school playground to hear Cleveland High athletes, cheerleaders and student government leaders talk about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.

The gathering was part of Blythe’s celebration of Red Ribbon Week, a national campaign during which participants wear red ribbons and take part in anti-drug programs.

The Cleveland students were members of the school’s Adopt-a-School program, which sponsors drug-awareness programs on campus and at five adopted area elementary schools.

At Tuesday’s hourlong rally, kindergarten through fifth-grade students shouted the Adopt-a-School motto: “If you like what you see, stay drug-free!” They also tossed footballs, dribbled basketballs and kicked soccer balls with the older students. They even tried to perform splits with the cheerleaders.

Following the rally, Cleveland students visited classrooms to talk one-on-one with youngsters about drug addiction and alcohol abuse.

It is often during a question-and-answer segment when younger students open up about their drug experiences, said Yolanda Moats a group member.

“One time, a fifth-grader was saying stuff to me about drugs and I was shocked,” she said. “They know about cocaine and street names for drugs. They talk about how their parents smoke and how they don’t like the way the smoke smells.”

“I think it’s important to warn them about the dangers of drugs while they are still at such a young age,” said Keishawna Wallace, a basketball team member. “We want to let them know that there are alternatives to drugs.”