“I learned how to handle peer pressure and say no to drugs.”

“I didn’t know people could die from alcohol poisoning.”

“I didn’t know how much of a problem prescription drug abuse was.”

“Many of our peers are dealing with drug issues themselves or have a family member with a problem.”

Student ambassadors in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Creating Community Change: Youth Engagement Program (CCC:YEP) program shared these messages and much more during their end of the year presentations at the Betty T. Ferguson Center in Miami Gardens on May 22, 23 and 24. 

Sixth, seventh and eighth graders in the CCC:YEP program at Brownsville Middle School, Carol City Middle School, Citrus Grove Middle School, Cutler Bay Middle School, Georgia Ayer-Jones Middle School, Homestead Middle School, North Miami Middle School and Redland Middle School delivered Informed Families four prevention campaigns in their schools and community this year. From food drives and movie nights in honor of Family Day to daily morning announcements enforcing drug free messaging during Red Ribbon Week, the students all worked hard to promote prevention awareness.

Dr. Brown from Georgia Ayer-Jones Middle School noted that many of her fellow teachers were surprised by the information presented in the Lock Your Meds and Smart Homes Smart Parties campaigns. Many didn’t realize that kids often use pills prescribed to other family members to get high or sneak into the liquor cabinet during family parties.

Some schools worked to increase parental involvement in their prevention campaigns this year. Members of the Parent Peer Group at Cutler Bay Middle School even attended the presentation.