In the News
Next Step students from Tesoro High School mentor students from Mariners Christian School in Costa Mesa, CA. This 6-week program uses small group sessions to facilitate drug education efforts. Students who participate in small groups are more likely to ask intimate questions about drug use and are less intimated.
The Next Step educational program uses high school students from both Santa Margarita Catholic High School and Tesoro High School to mentor junior high school students with continuing drug education efforts. The students delivered their presentation to junior high school students from Stoneybrooke School in Ladera Ranch, CA. Part of their presentation was the simulation of emphysema from the use of tobacco products.
Santa Margarita Catholic High School Next Step in Orange County was representatives at Circus Vargas .
Deputy Steve Garrison queries student's knowledge on drugs during a teaching session at an elementary school in Orange County.
One of Next Step group from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Orange County. They teach younger students about the negative effects of drugs at St John's Epicopal School.
Drug Use Is Life Abuse Facebook page connects
students online
Drug Use Is Life Abuse - Next Step Facebook page encourage students to get the lastest updates. Over 130 members have logged on. DUILA's Facebook offers a safe alternative for teens to connect with each other in a positive environment. To connect online: Link to Next Step Impact FACEBOOK page
Drug Use Is Life Abuse program spotlighted in
2010 OC Sheriff's Medal of Valor video
A video still showing Deputy Gary Mitchell teaching drug indentification at a local Orange County school. Drug Use Is Life Abuse is part of Community Programs Division of the Orange County Sheriff Department and was spotlighted in this year's Orange County sheriff's department Medal Of Valor video presentation.
Deputy Scott Yuen at St. John's Episcopal School
A dynamic audio visual presentation from Deputy Scott Yuen get students attention from St. John's Episcopal School. When they become high school students, they will go on to mentor other students using their own personal presentations.
11th Annual Scholarship Poster Contest
awarded to local student
Connor Elder of Lomarena Elementary School won the statewide contest for the 11th Annual Scholarship Poster Contest. Students from fifth and six grades from schools in California competed in the "Say No To Drugs" poster contest. The contest is sponsored by the Narcotic Educational Foundation of America and the California Narcotic Officers' Association and the winner was selected by a panel of judges.
Connor wins a $1000 prize U.S. Savings Bond for his creation in addition to monetary award of $100. Orange County Sheriff's Deputies Colin Dadd and Gary Mitchell were present for the award ceremonies. The deputies are part of Orange County Sheriff's Drug Use Is Life Abuse Community Programs task force educating local schools on drugs. Conner was part of the Positively kNOw Drugs program sponsered by the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
Deputy Scott Yuen's Next Step Mentoring Program helps distribute
Drug Abuse information to younger children
High school students participate in Next Step program as positive role models and mentors to hundreds of 8th grade students in Orange County. These photographs were taken during a drug prevention presentation.
Deputy Scott Yuen provides training to the high school students regarding current drug trends, symptomology, identification and the drug’s physiological effects. The students work as a team to develop a 45 minute presentation to address drug abuse and its dangers. Various forms of teaching techniques are used to engage the 8th grade students. Creativeness and variety is encouraged to develop unique ways of getting younger students to deter drug abuse. This proved to be an effective and fun way to get the younger students to remember information from the drug presentation.
11th Annual Henry Hall Scholarship Poster Drawing Contest
Region V
Conner Elder
Lomerena Elementary School
Laguna Hills, CA
Conner Elder from
Lomerena Elementary School,
Laguna Hills, CA won this year's Henry Hall Scholarship Poster Drawing Contest. Students from fifth and six grades from schools in California competed in the "Say No To Drugs" poster contest. The contest is sponsored by the Narcotic Educational Foundation of America and the California Narcotic Officers' Association and the winner was selected by a panel of judges. Posters wer judged on neatness, content and theme. Conner was part of the Positively kNOw Drugs program sponsered by the Orange County Sheriff's Department and taught by Deputy Gary Mitchell.
Several years ago CNOA was requested to manage the "Narcotic Educational Foundation of America" also known as NEFA. The request came from Mr. Henry Hall, the oldest CNOA member. Henry was an active CNOA member in Region III until his death at the age of 92. He spent his entire adult life educating the general public about drug abuse. Henry's father started NEFA in 1924 as a non-profit, public, educational organization.
NEFA and CNOA initiated the First Annual Poster Drawing Contest in 1999 in memory of Henry Hall and his lifetime work. The contest is for 5th and 6th grade students throughout the State of California. One student from Northern California and one student from Southern California are chosen.
The students are required to draw a poster representing the theme "Say No to Drugs." After the posters are drawn and submitted to CNOA, they are judged by a panel from NEFA and CNOA.
CNOA is proud to announce the winners of the "Eighth Annual Henry Hall Scholarship Poster Drawing Contest".
The awards are a gift certificate for a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond towards the Scholarship of each winner. Henry Hall donated $25,000 to initiate the Scholarship Fund. The winners will receive the Savings Bonds at a CNOA Regional Luncheon in their respective areas.
- Shirley Lessiak, Public Education & Information Committee
Mari Frank of KUCI 88.9FM Irvine interviews
Community Programs Deputy Scott Yuen
Deputy Scott Yuen, of Community Services, was interviewed by KUCI's Mari Frank about his work educating young people about the dangers of drug abuse.
To listen to the interviews click here.
Drug Use Is Life Abuse hosted Forum Addressing Medicine
Abuse by OC Teens
The meeting, sponsored by Drug Use Is Life Abuse (DUILA), Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) was at the Capistrano Unified School District Office in San Juan Capistrano. The goal was to raise awareness about the problems of prescription drug and over-the-counter cough medicine abuse among teens.
Recent studies have spotlighted medicine abuse, including the abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines, as an alarming trend among young people. When used correctly, these drugs are safe and effective. But when abused, these drugs can produce dangerous side effects, including death.
“Through collaborative efforts and united resources, CHPA and CADCA are helping us to educate our community about this dangerous trend,” said Marilyn MacDougall, Executive Director of DUILA. “From parents and educators to law enforcement officials, it is imperative that we come together to learn about medicine abuse so that we can raise awareness about its dangers among our teens.”
Next Step Recruitment for Next Step at
Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Next Step recruitment in October at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Deputy Scott Yuen signs up students for drug abuse mentoring program. Students from high school mentors other students about the adverse effects of drugs.
The nation’s drug czar visits Drug Use Is Life Abuse’s
IMPACT Students
September 29th, 2009
Gil Kerlikowske, director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, dropped by Orange County to visit Drug Use Is Life Abuse’s IMPACT and Next Step students. The nation’s drug czar has kicked off a $9 million ad campaign targeting methamphetamine abuse that will run mainly in the states most affected by the drug problem. An open discusion of current drug trends among high school students as well as preventive measures were discussed. Expressing their concerns with the current economic situation and the drug crisis were Executive Director of Drug Use Is Life Abuse Marilyn MacDougall, Deputy Scott Yuen, and Deputy Gary Mitchell.
Career Day
For Career Opportunities and Career Exploration Day, seventh and eighth graders from Aliso Viejo Middle School were treated by a visit from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Scott Yuen spoke about being a Sheriff Deputy and showed the students the Orange County Sheriff Department’s special hummer vehicle.
Picture courtesy of Melanie Aston.
Sand Sculpture Creation
Archisand created this beautiful sand sculpture for Drug Use Is Life Abuse. The photos depict how the sculpture was created.
Archisand was formed in 1989 by a group of architects and other talented artisans. Archisand has expanded its sculpting services to include a wide range of events and promotions. Sand Castles and Sand Sculptures of any theme can be created to promote most any occasion. Archisand Has been seen on T.V. on these familiar channels and programs: ABC's Extreme Makeover - Home Edition, Discovery Channel, Nickelodeon, and the Travel Channel's Sand Blasters.
For more information on sand sculpture: http://www.socalsandcastles.com
Next Step students featured in
Orange County Sheriff's 21st Annual Medal of Valor
Presentation Luncheon video
Students from Santa Margarita Catholic High School participate in Next Step's program as positive role models and mentors to hundreds of 8th grade students in Orange County. This year they were featured in the Orange County Sheriff's Medal of Valor video presentation on April 9, 2009. To view video go to OCSD's website:
10th Annual Scholarship Poster Contest
awarded to local student
Esther Kim of Anaheim Discover Christian School won the statewide contest for the 10th Annual Scholarship Poster Contest. Students from fifth and six grades from schools in California competed in the "Say No To Drugs" poster contest. The contest is sponsored by the Narcotic Educational Foundation of America and the California Narcotic Officers' Association and the winner was selected by a panel of judges. Posters wer judged on neatness, content and theme.
Esther Kim wins a $1000 prize U.S. Savings Bond for her creation. Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Yuen and Colin Dadd were present for the award ceremonies. The deputies are part of Orange County Sheriff's Drug Use Is Life Abuse Community Programs task force educating local schools on drugs. Esther was part of the Positively kNOw Drugs program sponsered by the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
Drug Use Is Life Abuse | P.O. Box 28 | Santa Ana, CA 92702