Central holds day to promote drug- and alcohol-free lifestyles

Thursday, 05 November 2009 16:24

Central High School’s fifth annual Drug Awareness Day this week included classroom presentations, a performance by Central’s Profiles Theater Group, the premiere of the Leadership Group DVD, and an awards ceremony.

The event was coordinated by Central’s Leadership Group, a peer-to-peer prevention and recovery support organization. The group began five years ago with three students and now has 450 students.

The Leadership Group seeks to empower students to help other students live alcohol- and drug-free, and to create an attitude that “It’s cool to be sober.” There are countless success stories of students who turned their lives around after joining the group, according to a city Board of Education press release.

“The Leadership Group helps the students move forward,” said Principal Alex Ortiz. “It’s important to strike a balance between the social and the academic; you need both in place to succeed.”

During the awards ceremony, honored for their support of the Leadership Group were Ortiz; School Supt. John J. Ramos Sr.; David Pease, Regional Youth Adult Substance Abuse Program; Child Guidance Center of Greater Bridgeport; Greater Bridgeport Adolescent Pregnancy program; Regional Network of Programs; Bridgeport Youth Service Bureau; and Connecticut Turning To Youth and Families.