The Newberg Anti-Drug Youth Campaign

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According to the Oregon Healthy Teens Survey, conducted with the Oregon Department of Education, marijuana and alcohol use among teens for the 2012-2013 school years yielded higher averages in Yamhill County than the averages in the state. In 2013, 3.2% of eighth graders admitted to using five or more alcoholic beverages at least one time in the past 30 days, compared to the state average of 2.9% (Oregon Healthy 53). According to the same survey, 2.9% of 11th graders are using marijuana 20-39 times in 30 days, compared to only 1.8% average in the state (Oregon Healthy 54). At this time the Chehalem Valley Middle School, located in Newberg, Oregon has no formal anti-drug awareness program. The school utilizes a two-week program focusing on overall health wellness, eating healthy, and some effects of drug use. The program is usually in the spring. Although other programs failed, Newberg, Oregon’s middle schools must implement an anti-drug campaign, which will expand on the “Above the Influence” campaign. Programs that have failed in the past include the “Just Say No” and “D.A.R.E.” programs. In the 1980’s, the anti-drug campaign “Just Say No” failed to teach the youth that drugs were harmful. The catchy phrase was used to help children say no to drugs and make healthy choices. Simply saying no without much explanation of what drugs are and how they affect the body and mind was not enough to keep children from experimenting with drugs and alcohol. In addition, in the 1980’s, was the Drug Abuse Resistance Education or “D.A.R.E.” program, this program also failed to prove effective. According to Don Des Jarlais PHD, research conducted in 1994, the research failed to prove that the program was useful, and after cuts from government fu... ... middle of paper ... ...low the community to become more active in the communities’ youth. Works Cited Carpenter, Christopher, S., and Cornelia Pechmann. "Exposure To The Above The Influence Antidrug Advertisements And Adolescent Marijuana Use In The United States, 2006-2008." American Journal Of Public Health 101.5 (2011): 948-954. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. Jarlais, Don C. DesSloboda, ZiliFriedman, Samuel R.Tempalski, BarbaraMcKnight, CourtneyBraine, Naomi. "Diffusion Of The D.A.R.E And Syringe Exchange Programs." American Journal Of Public Health 96.8 (2006): 1354-1358. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. "NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE RELEASES 2013 TEEN DRUG USE SURVEY." States News Service 18 Dec. 2013. Academic OneFile. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. "Oregon Healthy Teens Survey." Oregon Healthy Teens Survey. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.

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