Santa Maria Sun / School Scene

'Fighting back' against drugs

BY AMY ASMAN

Just say no A handful of Santa Maria students joined staffers from Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley at the national Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America conference in Washington, D.C. Pictured from left to right are Christina Kim, Virginia Yanez, Alison Lodes, Cynthia Salazar, Alexis Zamora, Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley education specialist Chastity “CJ” Johnson, and Alexis Barnard. PHOTO COURTESY FIGHTING BACK SANTA MARIA VALLEY

A handful of local students, along with three representatives from Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley, are currently participating in the five-day Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America conference in Washington, D.C.

Alexis Zamora of Lakeview Junior High, Alison Lodes of Tommie Kunst Junior High, Cynthia Salazar of El Camino Junior High, Virginia Yanez of Fesler Junior High, and Alexis Bernard of Righetti High School are attending the conference to learn about the most effective drug prevention programs used in schools across the nation. They’ll also get a chance to discuss the programs and other issues with their Congressional representatives, Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) and Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura), on Capitol Hill.

“These kids are going to be like ambassadors for the Santa Maria community. Kids listen to kids when it comes to issues like this,” said Alice Patino, Fighting Back president and Santa Maria City Council member.

This is the sixth conference Patino has been a part of, and she said the experience is highly rewarding for the students and the chaperones.

“It’s amazing what they come back with and how excited and jazzed they are to get involved in the community,” Patino said.

“I’m very excited about learning new things that help kids stay straight in life and helping kids stay out of trouble,” Yanez, a 7th grader at Fesler Junior High School, told the Sun before leaving for the conference.

Righetti senior Bernard said she was looking forward to learning new methods of drug prevention.

“In high school, it’s supposed to be cool to drink and do drugs, but it’s not,” Bernard said.

“There are so many more productive things in your life that you could be doing.”