This past week my school participated in Red Ribbon Week. Each student and faculty member was given the opportunity to anonymously write how drugs and alcohol have affected their lives on a paper "brick." Hundreds of these bricks were then displayed down a high-traffic hallway for students and staff to read and know that they are not alone.
Here are some of the ways drugs and alcohol have impacted my school:
- neglect by parents who were drunk or high; feeling like they can't talk to their parents; feeling unsafe around their parents
- moving to a new state because of drug problems; living with a foster family due to drug issues at home
- deaths of family members and friends; family members being revived multiple times from overdoses; being encouraged to commit suicide by a family member who was high
- family members who were or still are in jail; awareness of an increase in drug-related crime; awareness of financial trouble related to drugs
- friendships that have ended because of drug use; friends that skip school or come to school high; encouraging a friend to stop doing drugs
- neighbors who do drugs; restrictions on places to play outside due to high drug activity in some areas
- family members in rehab; family members who are sober now for: 21 days, 1 year, 8 years
Powerful, powerful. Taking idea to my high school immediately. Just got call from AP, my 3rd male student in hospital for anxiety and depression. Thankful for mental hospital and not emergency room for innocent students. But WTH? Thank yo for sharing this idea!
ReplyDeleteKeeping your student in my prayers.
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