Marble Falls students send out SOS to help teens say ‘no’ to drugs
Members of the Marble Falls High School Student Council who launched Students Opposing Substances (SOS) on Jan. 21 are treasurer Jared Edwards (left), secretary Kate McAlpin, historian MaKenzie Harrison, president Maddie Johnson, vice president Tess Johnson, reporter Paxon Oberle, senior class president Alexis Gomez and drug, alcohol, safety and health chairman Thomas Degolier. Staff photo by Connie Swinney
CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — The difference between a night of fun with friends and a tragedy might be as simple as having the courage and the tools to avoid drugs and alcohol.
Marble Falls High School Student Council launched a program called Students Opposing Substances (SOS) to offer classmates incentives and deterrents as well as provide positive peer pressure and awareness about the pitfalls of substance abuse.
“One of the biggest obstacles is just peer pressure. A lot of kids are influenced by their friends and other students,” student body treasurer Jared Edwards said. “When they’re out in a big group by themselves, they have a hard time being themselves, being an individual and standing up for what they really think.”
The student-driven program will feature two morning assemblies Jan. 21 for underclassmen and upperclassmen in the auditorium to introduce and encourage membership into the program.
With a $5 donation for the cost of a saliva-based drug-testing kit, sudents sign a contract along with their parents at home to remain drug-free and register for free prizes donated by local businesses.
“It’s to have kids stay engaged in the program. It helps them to see it’s still cool to be a good kid,” student body president Maddie Johnson said. “It’s cool to have good grades and be involved in student organizations.”
Information about the at-home drug-test kit remains between parents and students and can be administered in a way that helps the student avoid a request from peers to engage in drug use.
“This gives them a tangible item for them to be able to say, ‘I simply can’t do this. My parents have a way to know if I’ve been doing drugs or alcohol. I’m saying I really can’t,’” student body reporter Paxton Oberle said. “I’m hoping for 40 percent student involvement. A lot more of the friends, peers of that 40 percent, will start to say it’s a good program and have reasons to say ‘no’ now.”
Student body vice president Tess Johnson added: “It’s more to hold the kids accountable. They’re taking responsibility for themselves.”
Organizers of the program have set goals to reduce and potentially eliminate behaviors that harm grades, hinder family and social interaction and lead to accidents and incarceration associated with abuse of substances, including alcohol, marijuana, illegal prescription drugs, methamphetimines and so-called synthetic or designer drugs.
“I do think there is a problem with substance abuse, and a lot of kids don’t want to talk about it because it’s something a lot of kids are involved with,” Edwards said. “That’s what we’re trying to show and represent throughout our school, to shed light on it, so kids can actually see the problem. I hope that this organization unites our school.”
Go to www.studentsopposingsubstances.com or www.mfisd.txed.net for more information about the program.
connie@thepicayune.com