Join us at the Embassy Suites Hotel (E. Syracuse) on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 for program updates, materials distribution, and the unveiling of our brand new Gambling Learning Center.  A fabulous lunch, networking, and camaraderie are also in store!

11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you!

Grades 3 & 4

First Place:     
Darr Rinker, Grade 4 (Click here to see Darr’s design!)
St. Rose of Lima, N. Syracuse, NY

Second Place:
Hayden Mowatt, Grade 3 (Click here to see Hayden’s design!)
Green Intermediate School, Greene, NY (Chenango County)

Third Place:
Kate Benware, Grade 4 (Click here to see Kate’s design!)
St Mary’s Academy, Baldwinsville, NY

Grades 5 & 6

First Place:
Connor Smith, Grade 5 (Click here to see Connor’s design!)
St. Daniel-St. Matthew Academy, E. Syracuse, NY

Second Place:
Jeanie You, Grade 6 (Click here to see Jeanie’s design!)
Uplands Elementary School, Lake Oswego, OR

Third Place:
Shayna Fick, Grade 6 (Click here to see Shayna’s design!)
Clinton Middle School, Clinton, NY (Oneida County)

Grades 7 & 8

First Place:
Tyler Brown, Grade 7 (Click here to see Tyler’s design!)
Camillus Middle School, Camillus, NY

Second Place:
Christina Holzhauer, Grade 8 (Click here to see Christina’s design!)
West Genesee Middle School, Camillus, NY

Third Place:
Cnythia Becker, Grade 8 (Click here to see Cnythia’s design!)
South Seneca Central School, Romulus, NY (Seneca County)

The overall winner, Hayden Mowatt, whose design will appear on this year’s official Drug Quiz Show T-shirts, was selected by our Teen Advisory Council from among the nine winning entries. Way to go, Hayden!  : )

We’d like to extend our sincerest thanks to our distinguished panel of Judges including Tom Gilhooly, Art Director at Eric Mower and Associates; Beth Hurny, Director of Youth and Parenting Services at Prevention Network/OCAA; and Maura Bowman, Communications Specialist at Prevention Network/OCAA.  And, of course, a special “shout out” to Raymour & Flanigan Furniture and Eagle Newspapers for co-sponsoring the contest.  We couldn’t do it without you!

That’s the number of 5th through 8th graders who voluntarily participated in the Twenty-second Annual Rite Aid Drug Quiz Show.  These wonderful students (all winners in our eyes), representing over 200 schools throughout New York State, studied the materials provided and became engrossed in the exciting “game show” format.  As a result, they were able to answer questions such as:

1.  What drug is involved in 1/3 of all suicides, 1/2 of all murders, and 1/2 of all fatal car accidents?
2.  Name 2 characteristics of inhalants that make them particularly attractive to 10- to 15- year-olds.
3.  What is the difference between “blacking out” and “passing out?”
4.  Would it be an overstatement to say that cigarette smoking is now as important a cause of death as the great epidemics of typhoid, cholera, and tuberculosis in the past?
5.  What is leukoplakia? *

Students became conversant with the legalities, benefits, and risks of substances as diverse as prescription pills, steroids, chewing tobacco, and crack.  They learned the health benefits of laughter and techniques for handling stress positively.  They became familiar with important life skills (decision-making, ways of reducing personal risk factors, saying no, etc.).  In a word, through the program they learned to make decisions based upon fact vs. myth, on sound thinking vs. emotion.

Perhaps that’s why the community has been so supportive.  Each of our sponsors knows that substance abuse is our nation’s #1 health problem.  Moreover, they recognize the power and potential this prevention strategy has to provide more than mere information (i.e., to make available specific tools as well as confidence in dealing with peer pressure) to thousands of public, private, and parochial school students at precisely the time research indicates they typically are faced with having to make their first real-life decisions about alcohol and other drug use.

According to John Learish, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Rite Aid, “Rite Aid is a proud sponsor of the Rite Aid Drug Quiz Show, a program that empowers young people to educate both themselves and their peers about the risks of substance abuse.  Education is an invaluable first step in understanding and dealing with the problem.  Together, Rite Aid and participants in the Rite Aid Drug Quiz Show are helping people live happier, healthier lives.”

The Rite Aid Drug Quiz Show is essentially a volunteer run, cost-effective project with a proven track record of replicability.  It has won numerous awards including the New York State Education Week Competition and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ highest honor: the Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Community Health Promotions.  With pride in our progress and even greater hope for the future, we look forward to the day when all students will have this opportunity to positively influence their own growth and development!

*1.  Alcohol.
2.  Accessibility and low cost.
3.  During a “blackout” a drinker remains awake but suffers temporary memory loss; the next day he/she can’t remember what happened while drinking.  In contrast, people who “pass out,” actually become unconscious
4.  No, not according to the British Royal College of Physicians
5.  White, leathery, potentially pre-cancerous patches that can appear in the mouth, for example, as a result of a person’s using chewing tobacco.

If you’re new to the Rite Aid Drug Quiz Show … welcome! We invite you to learn more about our program by browsing the site.  Just click the tabs on the right side of this page.  Or check out our Newsletter.  Should you have questions or need additional information, don’t hesitate to contact us.

If you are a Regional Coordinator or School Advisor, please take a moment to register. Once the Syracuse office has verified your information, you’ll receive an email letting you know you’ve been approved to enter your special section of the site. On subsequent visits, all you’ll have to do is login by entering your email address and password. This will give you access to study materials, information, and forms designed just for you. Download and print any or all of these items at your convenience.

As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas. Your insight is invaluable to making the web site meaningful and workable. Enjoy!