JnEverett

When you take drugs, you lose all your energy
10-24-06 l Spartanburg Herald Journal l Ashlei N. Stevens

When Bryson Fowler was 8 years old, he encouraged his 19-year-old cousin to stop smoking cigarettes and cigars, because it was damaging the teen's health.

"My cousin almost died because he was coughing, and he collapsed," said Fowler, now 10. "When you take drugs, you lose all your energy."

Fowler, a fifth-grader at Jesse Bobo Elementary, learned the importance of saying no to drugs at a young age through his school's participation in Red Ribbon Week.

Beginning this past Sunday and ending Oct. 29, local elementary, middle and high schools are taking the time to stress the importance of saying no to drugs and alcohol.

Just say no

"It's a way of reinforcing positive, healthy activities for your kids," said Lennetta Gray-Brewton, executive director of the Health Resource Center, a nonprofit library that provides drug prevention materials aimed at youth and parents.

"There's never an age that's too young to teach children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol," Gray-Brewton said.

Red Ribbon Week became recognized nationally in 1988. In honor of slain California narcotics officer Enrique "Kiki" Camarena and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin.

That symbol of living a drug-free life has been adopted by millions of youths around the country, and thousands of schools celebrate the week by hosting guest speakers, wearing red clothes and hosting special events to prompt awareness.

O.P. Earle Elementary students performed a skit about being drug-free Monday morning, and Cannons Elementary hosted a school-wide parade complete with Broome High band, cheerleaders, and JROTC members.

Since this year's Red Ribbon Week theme is "Treasure your good health," all of the Cannons students wore beads and black pirate hats. Some even wore eye patches.

Fun with a message

"We had a lot of fun with it," Cannons principal Karen Grimm said. "So many of them came dressed up and excited and I think they got the message -- to treasure your good health."

Jesse Bobo has several events scheduled this week, including a step-team performance by fifth-graders on Friday, and an inspirational speech by Bryan Splawn, a former Bobo student who is now a Wofford College chemistry professor.

"Red Ribbon Week is important so kids can make the choice to be drug-free now and not later," said 10-year-old Maddie Monroe, a Jesse Bobo student.

"I'll carry my message up into middle school, because there might be other boys trying to get me to smoke or drink," said Bobo fifth-grader Brion Floyd. "I'll tell them 'you may pass out and won't wake up, and you won't see what your future will be or where your education can take you.' "