SADD Sends a Message Before Party Season

As prom and graduation approaches, and the weather is nicer, students are in party mode. That means that disaster lurks. SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) at hopes to send a message loud and clear to not only students, but parents, on Thursday night, April 7, with a program at the high school at 7 p.m.

The program is called "Not My Kid: A Personal Story," and centers around a lecture by Nick Levine, who shares his personal story of heading down a path that went from high school "star" to a college drop-out on drugs. Levine's parents talk about dealing with the struggle, as well.

Susan Tuite, the school nurse as well as co-advisor of SADD with guidance counselor Rebecca Haberman, said they hope the program attracts both the parents and the kids by, especially, offering $10 off the prom ticket for attendees.

"We feel that parent involvement is the key to helping kids with their substance abuse issue," Tuite said. "We can’t do it as a school alone. We feel any time that we can draw the parents in and engage them in what we’re showing the kids during the day, we should. Many times, the parents don’t experience what the kids have here."

Tuite said that listening to a family that has been impacted by the personal effects of drug use is particularly poignant to both teens and their parents, and puts a personal face to the problem.

"Just to hear a story from a regular family with great kids," said Tuite, "and all of a sudden for it to become a horrific situation, and hear how they cope, is wonderful.  I think it’s important that parents hear from other parents, and with the prom coming, and drinking and driving, we do everything we can to keep the kids safe."

From the Detectives Brian Griffin and Jeff Noel are also planning to talk about trends in the area, as well as what parents can be aware of in terms of these trends.

Tuite said there are about 20 students involved in the SADD group presently, and added that they just attended a conference at Anna Maria College about safe driving.

"Sometimes kids make poor decisions," said Tuite. This is the way we go after this issue, by engaging the parents and community and the police department."

Tuite also adds that there will be a "big event" at the school on May 4 that invites the Massachusetts State Police to speak, and the Northborough Police Department will simulate a drunk driving accident using students from the school.

"If we get one kid, we’ve been successful," Tuite said. "That one kid will talk to his friends."