Centerville teen’s drug-free message taken nationwide
— Jade Eilers is a junior at Centerville High School, who regularly advocates against teenage drug use through a variety of activities. Her efforts have earned her national recognition and also the nomination of Miss Ohio High School America 2020.
Eilers was recently honored with distinction, as one of the top youth in Ohio by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. She is also a leading force behind BOLD & BRAVE (Building Our Lives Drug free & Building Respect And Values for Everyone).
“The whole reason I am so passionate about living a drug free life is because I haven’t seen my biological father since I was 3 because of his drug addiction,” she told the Dayton Daily News. “So, growing up I felt like I wasn’t good enough and I felt like cocaine was better than I was because it took away my father. Both of my grandmas were lost to addiction, too.”
She’s joined the Ohio Youth Led Prevention Network on the Youth Council that plans prevention activities that include a huge rally annually called “We are the Majority” where more than 2,000 people from 75 cities come together to celebrate not using any substance of any kind.
“We march to the Statehouse and I get to share my testimony on the steps with political figures. This year’s event is May 5 in Columbus,” Eilers said. “I also got
‘I may be young but my voice matters and I’m so thankful that I get to use it for good.’
Jade Eilers
to speak to lawmakers on drug policies and protocols on Legislative Day (this year is Feb. 25). Funding the arts is big for me because not everyone likes sports and kids need things to do.”
The message of being abandoned by a drug addicted father who is still lost in his disease, has prompted Eilers to say, “you don’t have to be a victim to your genetics, and you can choose a different path.”
“I may be young but my voice matters and I’m so thankful that I get to use it for good,” Eilers said. “I can’t fix my father but if I get one person to take the drug free pledge and stick with it that might have went another way, I know I made a different ripple effect in the world.”
Her mother Alisha Eilers, says Jade’s message has had a “secondary effect” on people who listen because it is not just about not using drugs, but connecting with kids who have already lost family members to drugs.
“She’s connecting with kids who have lost parents or other family members to drug use,” Alisha said. “We are coming out of a generation that really got trapped in addiction.”
Contact this reporter at 937-225-0586 or email Wayne.Baker@cmg.com.