Say no To DRUGS

Just Say No

While drug use by our nation's youth has plagued our society for many years, the situation has been steadily worsening.

Drugs and drug culture are glamorized by music and television, while athletes and public figures are indicted and jailed for drug abuse--or found dead of overdose. Media attention focuses on children who experiment with drugs at an earlier and earlier age, and drug availability is shown to be rampant.

Among growing public concern about drug abuse, the White House spearheaded an anti-drug campaign in 1983. It wasn't, however, until three elementary school children, in spired by First Lady Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" message, started the first "Just Say No" Club in 1985 that the campaign got underway.

Now Mrs. Reagan is the honorary chairman of the Just Say No Foundation, a nonprofit organization that links and coordinates the 1,700 school clubs across the country. The Foundation receives support from national organizations, such as 4-H and Girl and Boy Scouts of America; private companies and foundations; numerous celebrities; one federal agency--Action; and one federal department--Agriculture.

All USDA agencies are contributing

USDA is the only department uniting all of its agencies and offices to collectively join the "Just Say No" cause. Each USDA agency has designated a "Just Say No" representative and has drawn up a plan of action for its contribution to the initiative. These plans have been compiled into one catalog and distributed to each agency to allow for the greatest possible exchange and sharing of ideas.

Mrs. Reagan and the Just Say No Foundation have been very supportive of USDA's extensive efforts. "We've been very happy with Agriculture," says Tom Adams, Foundation president. "You found out what needed to be done and you're doing it. You've been very good about creating awareness in the community about our program."

In 1986, Assistant Secretary John W. Bode recognized the need to promote the "Just Say No" campaign in schools. Bode, a father himself, feels strongly about the need to control drug use among school children and, therefore, was eager to contribute to the campaign.

Bode initiated the Department's effort, with the assistance of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). FNS is the one USDA agency ideally situated to get the message out to schools.

Variety of activities help reach children

One way the message is reaching school children is on milk cartons served through the National School Lunch Program. FNS was encouraged that the dairy industry joined in this effort.

FNS is also using its seven regional public information offices to place and promote the use of "Just Say No" public service advertisements in thousands of local newspapers nationwide.

In addition, FNS and the American School Food Service Association are combining efforts to raise student awareness of the "Just Say Noh message and to encourage the formation of new clubs. FNS and ASFSA are working closely together in determining where their efforts may be used most effectively.

ASFSA is considering several proposals, one of which is to coordinate activities such as a national poster and essay contest. Since virtually all school food service directors are members of ASFSA, the Association can give national direction and leadership to local, state, and national activities.

"Just Say No" clubs stay busy with four types of activities--educational, recreational, service, and "peer refusal." Peer refusal involves learning the "Three Steps to Say No":

Step 1: Figure out if what your friend wants to do is okay.

Step 2: If it's wrong, say "No."

Step 3: Suggest other things to do instead.

At an age when peer acceptance is so important, saying "No" to their friends is probably the hardest lesson these children face. Yet, as Bode has observed first-hand, more and more children are making the right choice.

"When I first heard about the 'Just Say No' clubs in schools, in my mind I was doubtful they'd attract great numbers of students. But as I've traveled around the country visiting schools, I've been astonished by the vitality of the clubs and the number of kids actually saying 'No.'

"These organizations are helping kids recognize the acceptable alternatives to drugs."

"Just Say No" clubs offer peer reinforcement to children by helping them realize they are not alone in wanting to avoid drugs. The activities of the clubs help spread the "Just Say No" message throughout the schools and communities.

Special day began compaign at FNS

FNS, too, is spreading the message to its community of employees. As a kick-off to its campaign, FNS held a "Just Say No" Day in November. FNS Administrator Anna Kondratas, Deputy Secretary Peter Myers, and Assistant Secretary Bode were all there to give their support to the anti-drug campaign.

Special guest speaker Craig McEwen of the Washington Redskins football team stressed that we must not depend on drugs to help us through the occasional rough times we face.

Assistant Secretary Bode presented awards to two students from Washington's Van Ness Elementary School, who were winners of an FNS-sponsored poster contest, and to the winner of an essay/poetry contest sponsored by a northern Virginia community homeowners' association.

Other events of the day were a panel discussion by parents and children of Straight, Inc., a nationally recognized drug treatment program, and a presentation by representatives of the Alexandria Police Department's Crime Prevention Section and Vice and Narcotics Section.

Throughout the coming year, FNS will continue working with ASFSA, schools, and local communities promoting the "Just Say No" message.

Bode encourages employees of USDA and state and local agencies that work with USDA to carry the "Just Say No" message home to their children and communities. "The drug problem has touched so many families," he says. "There's hardly a person, in or out of government, who hasn't known someone who has abused drugs.

"We have to fight this problem everywhere it exists. The cause is so important."

Photo: In Portsmouth, Ohio, this spring, children of all ages took part in a "walk against drugs," one of many sponsored by local communities to support the "Just Say No" campaign.