Smithtown Horizons And Youth Bureau Hold Drug Awareness Campaign

SMITHTOWN, NY — The Town of Smithtown Horizons Counseling and Education Center is teaming up with the Smithtown Youth Bureau to encourage Smithtown township K-12 students to participate in a creative and fun virtual initiative for Red Ribbon Week, which is Oct. 23 through Oct. 31, according to a news release.

Students are invited to create their own artwork using this year’s Red Ribbon theme, "Life is a Movie, Film Drug Free." Artwork should illustrate the ways students personally play their part in fostering safe, healthy, and drug-free communities.

"We are excited to celebrate Red Ribbon Week this year again," said Madi Makboulian, drug and alcohol community coordinator, in a news release. "We are delighted to showcase all the artwork that the young people in the community created for this year’s campaign. There are so many ways to have fun and be healthy in life without the use of drugs and alcohol. Many high school students believe that they must partake in substance use in order to fit in; but the reality is that most teenagers are not using substances."

Students can draw, color, paint, or even use computer graphics to artistically edit a photo.

Participants should put their initials, age and school on their piece of artwork. Town Certificates of Community Service for one hour of service will be provided for students in grades 6-12. Students in grades K-5 will receive a certificate of participation. Younger students may color and decorate the ribbon template, or the family coloring sheet. Templates and coloring sheets can be found on the Horizons Counseling and Education Center website.

Entrants were asked to send completed artwork to kdevito@smithtownny.gov as an image to send in a submission. All submissions are due by Oct. 18. An online gallery will be posted on the official Town of Smithtown website showcasing all student artwork.

"Red Ribbon serves as a reminder to encourage parents, children and the community to promote drug-free lifestyles and to have open discussions on this topic," said Kelly DeVito, youth services coordinator. "The artwork submitted by the young people in the Township each year is always creative and it highlights the healthy ways they enjoy life."

Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those whose parents do not. Only a quarter of teens surveyed report having these types of conversations, according to the Town of Smithtown.

"Alcohol and drug use has reached epidemic levels, and it is important to be open and honest about these issues so that the stigma of addiction is taken away and people will go for help if they need it," the town wrote.