Tuesday, November 09, 2004

TO: Media

FROM: Mimi Cunningham

DATE: Nov. 9, 2004

RE: Changing Attitudes and Behaviors around Drugs and Alcohol: Press Briefing about Pilot Project with UNCW and Ashley and Hoggard High Schools 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, Ashley High School

CROSSROADS, University of North Carolina Wilmington's substance abuse prevention and education program, is a partner in a $100,000 pilot project dealing with drug and alcohol prevention in high schools. Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an agency of the National Institutes of Health, the project replicates and advances three years of previous CROSSROADS work with the New Hanover County schools.

The first phase of this innovative project includes UNCW students mentoring ninth grade peer educators at two New Hanover County high schools, Ashley and Hoggard. Media are cordially invited to attend a press briefing about the project and meet the students who are helping health teachers facilitate classroom sessions and conduct awareness activities for all ninth graders. These dynamic, interactive sessions focus on key aspects of preventing drug abuse such as making good decisions, resisting peer pressure and understanding the effects of drug and alcohol abuse.

The ultimate goal of the pilot project is to develop an effective drug education curriculum for high school students that can be used around the country.

Join us to learn more about this exciting project that has great potential for dealing with a national issue of substance abuse. Meet at 3:30 p.m. at the main office at Ashley High School, 555 Veterans Drive, off U.S. Highway 421 toward Carolina Beach.