Guard takes role in Drug Store Project seriously

Publisher’s note: This is the 10th anniversary of the Drug Store Project. Today’s event at Lake Tahoe Community College is designed to teach sixth-graders that they have choices and what can happen if they choose to use drugs.

By John K. Holihan Jr.

The California National Guard’s Drug Demand Reduction Team mission is to coordinate statewide the utilization of National Guard resources and personnel in direct support of community based organizations, law enforcement agencies, and educational institutions in their illegal drug awareness and prevention efforts-programs, such as the Drug Store Project in South Lake Tahoe.

California National Guard’s DDR members act as role models, mentors, student guides, and setup and tear down crew for the Drug Store Project.

The California National Guard’s Drug Demand Reduction members are a part of the community. Our children face the same challenges that all California youth face with bullying, self-esteem and alcohol and drugs.

The California National Guard DDR has been partnering with Lisa Huard’s Drug Store Project for the past 10 years. The Tahoe program has been the model that other cities and Arizona’s National Guard’s DDR program has used to develop their own Drug Store Project.

Some of the youth who attended Tahoe’s first Drug Store Project are now volunteers who help with the Drug Store Project. They talk to the youth about how the project has impacted their life.

The students who participate in the Drug Store Project are given a pre-test and post-test to document the effect the Drug Store message and what valuable information the youth have gained. The goal is for the youth to remember what they have learned and put it into practice should they be faced with a similar situation.

With the lack of funding for drug awareness and with state budget issues, things like this are threatened in terms of potentially not being able to participate in the future.

John K. Holihan Jr. is a master sergeant with the California National Guard.