Pubdate: Wed, 31 Oct 2012 Source: Herald-Citizen (TN) Copyright: 2012 Herald-Citizen, a division of Cleveland Newspapers, Inc Contact: http://www.herald-citizen.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1501 Author: Amy Davis CHS STUDENT RALLIES FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PUTNAM COUNTY -- Drug and alcohol prevention isn't just the responsibility of adults. Just ask Maggie Amoss. The 15-year-old Cookeville High School sophomore has done her share of rallying for the cause, having been involved in any way she could through the years to get the word out. "I've always been interested in the anti-drug and alcohol effort from when I started in the DARE program (when I lived) in Murfreesboro," she said. "From that time, I've wanted to help make my community a better place." Amoss is a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, having recently been appointed to the state SADD youth advisory council; has twice attended Tennessee Teen Institute, a camp that focuses on leadership skills and underage alcohol and drug prevention strategies; participated in the AT&T and Governor's Highway Safety Office Sept. 18 state press conference on texting and driving; is involved with the CHS Health Occupations Students of America club; and takes part in Bully Free Tennessee, a local anti-bullying effort, as well as the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network. And if that's not enough to keep her busy, she's also pursuing her Girl Scout Gold Project, plays saxophone in the CHS band and is involved in her church's Episcopal Youth Community. With so much community service under her belt, it seems only fitting that she also be part of Power of Putnam's youth coalition. And because of that involvement, she was chosen as POP's prevention partner of the month for October. "I was surprised and a bit overwhelmed because usually it's the adults who are chosen," Amoss said. "You don't really see kids or teens getting recognized for the work they do in the community." POP assistant director Justin Sweatman-Weaver is happy with this month's pick, particularly with Amoss being a member of the youth coalition, which he oversees. "Maggie has been almost a one-person youth coalition for two years now," he said. "From the time I started working with Power of Putnam, she was the first student I had to get actively involved." It all started during spring break 2010, when POP offered drug-free "Clean Break" activities for students. At the time, Amoss had a concussion from playing some rowdy church league basketball and was bored from sitting around the house. What she really wanted to do was check out the Clean Break activities. "I practically begged my mom to get me out of the house, and she finally agreed," Amoss said. That's when she met Sweatman-Weaver and learned about POP and its mission. "From there we started some projects and have had some interesting experiences, such as working with Bully Free Tennessee, TTI and talking to legislators in Nashville about safe driving," she said. Amoss noted the importance of having a coalition like POP. "I've noticed at school that a lot of kids aren't aware of what drugs can do to you," she said. "They just think it'll never happen to them. "But it can happen. That doesn't mean it will happen, but if you're abusing the substances, you're taking that chance. You're risking getting sick or getting caught." She said one the biggest problems she's seen at school is the sale of tobacco products. "It amazes me that teachers catch it sometimes, but other times they don't see it," she said. "They catch the basic cases of somebody sneaking outside to smoke or somebody smoking in the bathrooms, but that's it. They don't see it being sold. They don't see it passing from kid to kid." Sweatman-Weaver said, "To hear a first-hand account from somebody who sees it every day tells me Power of Putnam is doing what we need to be doing, and we need to keep going and do it better, continue to build up our community partners and implement environmental strategies as best we can." The mission of the POP youth coalition is to educate students, prevent destructive decisions such as alcohol and drug use and encourage students to participate in activist projects about safe teen driving, bullying, mental health and suicide, dating violence, child abuse and human rights. "We are currently supporting our partners at Genesis House in a food drive and planning to assist the Putnam County middle schools in developing strategic action plans to address bullying," Sweatman-Weaver said. Anyone interested in joining the POP youth coalition may or call 520-7531. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt