PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Aroostook County Action Program has announced plans for the first-ever Aroostook Youth Prevention Day to be held at the University of Maine at Presque Isle on Thursday, May 31.
Seventh-grade students from 16 Aroostook County schools will arrive on campus between 9 and 9:30 a.m. and spend much of the day participating in workshops aimed at educating youth about drug prevention and healthy lifestyle habits.
During the Thursday, March 15, meeting for the Drug Free Aroostook coalition, ACAP Community Education Specialist Chris Haskell announced that 22 workshops are scheduled for Aroostook Youth Prevention Day. Workshops will end at 1:30 p.m. to give students enough time to arrive home before the end of the school day.
Officials from ACAP, The Aroostook Medical Center, County Physical Therapy, Aroostook Mental Health Center, the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and other organizations will speak on topics ranging from the dangerous health effects of tobacco, marijuana and opioid drugs to concussion prevention and physical wellness to self-empowerment and resilience.
Haskell said that the idea to host workshops for County seventh graders came about after realizing that early exposure to drug prevention education would benefit students before they receive further training from ACAP’s Prime for Life program as eighth graders.
“Part of the motivation is giving students the education they need to make choices that are well-informed and help them reach their goals,” Haskell said.
Teachers will receive educational packets related to the workshop topics for further discussion with students in their classrooms and during the bus rides to and from Aroostook Youth Prevention Day. Additions to the day’s programing will be announced at a later date.
