Leadership Camp in Anderson County Focuses on Drug, Alcohol Awareness

ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) - Dozens of incoming middle schoolers in Anderson County were rewarded with a free leadership camp. It's for students who completed all of their assignments and displayed leadership skills in their L.E.A.D classes, a program that helps prepare kids for future success.

One of the activities at the three-day camp is a lesson on drug and alcohol prevention.

"It's good for the kids to say no to drugs and it's very important for kids to be drug-free in schools," Deputy Kim Lay, with the Anderson County Sheriff Department, said.

School resource officers hosted the program for 30 students across Anderson County's nine elementary schools.

"I think it's important because, so you never grow up addicted to drugs or anything," Taylor Sherwood, an incoming six grader, said.

Some of the lessons on drugs will include the effects things like marijuana and alcohol have on the body, important knowledge to have early as the students inch closer to their teenage years.

"It's good that kids get these lessons early in age so that whenever they face peer pressure, they know what to do as far as refusing that," Lay said.

Parents of the students said they like this idea and hope the education will help steer their children away from drugs and alcohol as they get older.

"I just think it will help her learn what to look out for and what to avoid to help her have the courage to say no," James Brooks, her father, said.

http://www.wate.com/news/local-news/leadership-camp-in-anderson-county-focused-on-drug-and-alcohol-awareness/1221689645