Ria Beri ‘27
EE Staff Writer
It is time for the annual 9th Grade Underage Drinking & Drug Forum. This year’s “Positive Choices, Healthy Kids” program will take place on Wednesday, November 8, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. All freshmen are expected to attend the event with their guardian(s) in order to receive credit for the health/physical education curriculum.
The forum will be held by the Trumbull Youth Advisor (YAY) and Prevention Partnership (TPAUD) groups, both of which aim to promote youth mental health and wellness around the town. YAY and TPAUD are also responsible for the middle school Red Ribbon Week and the Trumbull Suicide Vigil, along with several other mental-health related events.
The purpose of the forum is to inform the new families of the risks and health consequences associated with drugs and drinking. Sofia Coelho, a Senior and Youth Advisor, shares that: “Our goal for the ‘Positive Choices, Healthy Kids’ 9th Grade Forum is to encourage THS to make mindful choices by giving them tools and information. We believe in focusing on the positive, because lecturing and scaring our peers about underage drinking and drug use is not effective. Instead, we want to emphasize why the majority of THS students are choosing to be healthy”.
Several Trumbull High upperclassmen will be on hand to share recent statistics in drug and alcohol use, along with ways to cope with and prevent addictions. In fact, recent TPAUD surveys suggest that only 2% of Trumbull’s students engage in vaping, drugs, and/or drinking. The forum plans to recognize the collective efforts to stay healthy, while sharing methods to push this number even lower.
Freshmen who cannot make it to the program will have the option of completing a written response on healthy choices. Still, all 9th graders should do their best to attend the forum as an easier way to receive credit- especially since the event means no homework on Wednesday night!