Summit addresses substance use with teens
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- High school students learned about the connection between mental health and substance use through a summit hosted by the Youth Alliance on Friday.
The substance use prevention program at emPowerU included freshmen, sophomores and juniors from the St. Joseph public high schools. It includes games and activities, breakout sessions and speakers.
Robin Hammond, executive director of the Youth Alliance, explained more about the purpose of the event.
"We want young people to be educated," Hammond said. "We want them to learn about the effects of substances on their brain. We know that that really helps them to make better choices if they are armed with information, and we want them to have the right information versus what they might learn from their peers or they might learn online. We want them to know the real truth about it."
Benton High School junior Joslynne Gromowski attended the event and said the topic is an important one to discuss.
"It's bringing light onto problems that shouldn't be hidden," Gromowski said. "It's something that we aren't scared to talk about and stand up for, which I think is really important because we need to be able to bring light to these topics so that people can understand that it's OK to be in this scenario and it's OK to get help and it's OK to understand that it's normal what you're going through and there are people around you that are willing to help you."
Another attendee from Benton, sophomore Savannah Royer, said programs like this are helpful to teens.
"It's extremely important to spread awareness, but also having the proper education on these things helps you create a more sustainable and effective way of change," Royer said. "And this overall just helps spread awareness."
Landon Williams is a freshman at Central High School who has been involved in the Youth Alliance for the past two years. He said the event is beneficial to teens like him.
"To teach kids to not use drugs and to also spread the word to other students or adults that don't know more about drugs and what it can do to you," Williams said.
Royer said the summit was not only educational, but it also helped students step out of their shells.
"It was extremely informational, but also it was collaborative," Royer said. "A lot of these people here I know aren't comfortable with getting out of their comfort zone ... and I feel like a lot of people did get out of their comfort zones today and it was effective."
Hammond said she wants students to feel like they can make a difference after the summit.
"We want them to feel empowered to make change in their school," Hammond said. "So, it's always great to make change in your community and to make your community a better and safer place. But we ultimately want young people to have a voice, and we want them to be able to make their school buildings their safe zone or their safe place."
