I pledge to help kids be drug-free

Next week, children across Barry County will learn lessons that will help, at least some of them, commit to a drug-free life. These lessons will be learned through classroom activities, group pledges, balloon launches, assemblies and other events that will be held in celebration of Red Ribbon Week.

On several occasions I have heard comments that these events and lessons don't make a difference in the lives of children. I've heard people remark that when children get older their priorities and friends change and they often make poor decisions anyway.

Although this could be true for some kids, I must remind people to look at the bigger picture. If these lessons and activities influence just one child to make better decisions then they cannot be a waste of time.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 9 percent of children over the age of 11 have experienced alcohol or illicit drug dependence. The same survey indicates that over 25 percent of individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 abused drugs or alcohol in 2005 and 2006.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Uniform Crime Reports indicate that over 39,000 individuals were arrested for impaired driving and over 45,000 individuals were arrested for drug offenses in 2006.

Two years ago, over 800 deaths that occurred in Missouri were related to drug use, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Bureau of Health Informatics.

I hope that these statistics help inspire community members to show support for drug-free lessons and activities held next week.

I also hope that area residents accept the challenge to teach their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews about the importance of making positive decisions, not just during Red Ribbon Week, but each day, week and month of each year.

It has been proven that children who see reoccurring commercials on television will be more likely to buy or influence their parents to buy the products advertised in the commercials. Couldn't it be possible for us to use these same repetitive methods to influence children to make positive decisions and healthy choices?