Smithtown Horizons and Youth Bureau host drug awareness campaign

SMITHTOWN, NY – The City of Smithtown Horizons Counseling and Education Center is partnering with the Smithtown Youth Bureau to encourage K-12 students in the Smithtown community to participate in a creative and fun virtual initiative for Red Ribbon Week, starting March 23 . will take place until October 31, according to a press release.

Students are invited to create their own artwork based on this year's Red Ribbon theme, “Life is a Movie, Film Drug Free.” Artwork should illustrate how students personally contribute to promoting safe, healthy, drug-free communities.

“We are excited to celebrate Red Ribbon Week again this year,” Drug and Alcohol Community Coordinator Madi Makboulian said in a news release. “We are delighted to showcase all the artwork that young people in the community have created for this year’s campaign. There are so many ways to have fun and be healthy in life without using drugs and alcohol. Many high school students believe they do. “They have to use substances to fit in.” However, the reality is that most teenagers do not use substances.

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

Participants should write their initials, age and school on their artwork. For students in grades 6 through 12, city community service certificates are issued for one hour of community service. Students in grades K-5 will receive a certificate of participation. Younger students can color and decorate the ribbon template or family coloring sheet. Templates and coloring pages can be found on the Horizons Counseling and Education Center website.

Participants were asked to send completed artwork as an image to [email protected] for submission. All submissions must be made by October 18th. An online gallery showcasing all of the students' artwork will be posted on the City of Smithtown's official website.

“Red Ribbon serves as a reminder to encourage parents, children and the community to promote a drug-free lifestyle and to have open discussions on this topic,” said Kelly DeVito, Youth Services Coordinator. “The artwork that young people in the township submit each year is always creative and highlights the healthy way they enjoy life.”

Children of parents who regularly talk to their teens about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than children whose parents don't. According to the city of Smithtown, only a quarter of teens surveyed said they had had these types of conversations.

“Alcohol and drug use has reached epidemic proportions, and it is important to be open and honest about these issues so that the stigma of addiction is removed and people get help when they need it,” the city wrote.