SMAMS to host free drug prevention program, Reality Tour
ST. MARYS - This week St. Marys Area Middle School is hosting The Reality Tour, a program which educates parents and children about the risks and consequences of substance use.
Two opportunities to view the tour are taking place on Wednesday and Thursday evening beginning at 6 p.m. following registration.
The multi-faceted program features various stations. It will begin at 6 p.m. with a presentation, “Effects of Drugs on the Brain”, by Mackenzie Gahr, SMAMS health teacher. SMAHS students will present a skit on the topic. Next half of the families in attendance will participate in a simulation. Several SMAMS teachers will led the tour during which time students are encouraged to gather at the front of the crowd in order to better see the presentation.
The tour entails a stop with Tom Nicklas, City of St. Marys Police Department chief, in the band room; Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in the cafeteria; and a funeral home setup in the library.
The remaining families will attend a 40-45 minute presentation about the risks of vaping and drugs offered by Gahr in the Large Group Instruction (LGI) room. Groups will switch places at 7 p.m.
At 7:40 p.m., there will be a full group presentation with law/ drug enforcement. Another full group presentation is slated for 8 p.m. featuring a recovering substance abuse addict. Both presentations are expected to last about 20 minutes, however extra time has been allotted for families who have questions for the presenters.
The event is expected to conclude around 8:30 p.m. Students are encouraged to register to attend the event with a parent and/or guardian. Currently there are nearly 80 students registered for the tour.
Numerous agencies will have displays setup during registration starting at 5:15 p.m. Among those providing information about available resources are Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services (ADAS), Citizens Against Physical, Sexual and Emotional Abuse (CAPSEA), CenClear, Center for Community Resources/Crisis Line, Clarion Psychiatric Center, Dickinson Center Inc., (DCI), Elk &Cameron County Student Assistance Program (SAP) Services, Elk County Juvenile Probation, The Meadows Psychiatric Hospital, Mecca Mann Mission and Penn Highlands Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health.
The Reality Tour is a researched drug prevention program cre
ated in Butler in 2003 after a need to address the heroin epidemic through education.
The tour has been continually updated to include new drug trends under the guidance of the 501c3 nonprofit Community Action Network for Drug-free Lifestyle Empowerment (CANDLE). One of the main objectives of CANDLE is to educate parents and children together about substance abuse experimentation before a need arises. In order to achieve this CANDLE has partnered with schools, community groups and other organizations to provide prevention experiences which entails many components to accommodate a variety of learning styles using a multi-media approach.
Locally Patty Greene of Kersey obtained a license many years ago from CANDLE to implement The Reality Tour at local schools. The event sparks conversation on the topic of substance use that may be difficult for parents and their child to discuss.
Drug abuse has been an ongoing issue across the nation for decades, with drug overdose deaths topping 100,000 each year as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2021.