Fox Hills students learn to say no every time

"Just once can't hurt me" is an excuse that will no longer work for students at Fox Hills Elementary School.

Fox Hills celebrated Red Ribbon Week Oct. 10-14 with the help of special guest speakers, former Miss Utah Heather Anderson to Taylorsville City Police Detective Scott Lloyd, who taught students the importance of saying no to drugs and alcohol every time it's offered to them, and what can happen to them if they don't. Later in the week, the message was driven home when students participated in the Prevention Dimensions program."I lost my younger brother to an accidental overdose," Anderson said.

Anderson's brother died when he was only 22 years old, because one bad choice led to another until it destroyed his life. He started out with alcohol in high school, and thought it was no big deal, Anderson said. However, the next step was prescription drugs, then cocaine.

"The consequences don't necessarily show themselves the first time they use," Anderson said.

That's why it's so important for students to say no every time, and for parents to discuss drug and alcohol use openly with them and give clear consequences when they do use, she said. Research shows that underage drinkers are 60 percent more likely to try drugs as well, but kids who know their parents disapprove are 50 percent less likely to do either, she said.

Anderson is currently the Utah PTA's spokesperson, and through that she has been able to find many opportunities to tell her brother's tragic story, and encourage students to make better choices than he did.

Detective Lloyd has seen another, just as ugly side, of drug addition during his years on the Taylorsville police force. As the crisis intervention coordinator, Lloyd has seen many cases of drug abuse, and the dark spiral that it causes in a life.

The first step is often just one "harmless" cigarette, that soon leads to hard drugs such as cocaine, meth, heroine and marijuana, he said. After the first taste of a hard drug, a person has to take more and more every time to try and reach the feeling of their first high. They often resort to stealing to pay for their expensive habit.

The good news is that today people are far more open about discussing drugs than 10 or 20 years ago, he said.

"I believe it makes it easier for kids to say no," he said.

Talking about drugs and alcohol is as important in a school setting as it is at home, because at school activities like Red Ribbon Week students can find out that they do not have to sacrifice the respect of their peers to say no, PTA President Diane Gilmore said.

Lloyd also taught students some tips on how to say no, such as sticking with other kids who will say no with them, and making sure to say no quickly and confidently when they do, because any hesitation will be preyed on as weakness.

"Prevention Dimensions" is the official state drug and alcohol prevention program for schools. The program uses music written by local songwriter and pianist Steve James to encourage students to make good choices in every aspect of their lives.