SUN Sailor Editions Plymouth/Wayzata | Page 8

Education Sun Sailor Newspapers welcomes news releases and story ideas from the community. Send to [email protected]; mail to: Sun Sailor, 33 Second St. N.E., Osseo, MN 55369. sailor.mnsun.com Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 • Page 8 Substance use prevention program visits Wayzata High School Know the Truth program included stories from recovering addicts By JASON JENKINS [email protected] Recovering addicts recently shared their stories with Wayzata High School students as part of the Know the Truth substance use prevention program. Four presentations were given through- out the day Feb. 15 to around 300 health class students. In the past 12 years, Know The Truth has led over 12,000 presentations in more than 160 high schools and middle schools in Minnesota and has connected with over 400,000 students. The program is from Minnesota Adult and Teen Chal- lenge, a Minneapolis-based addiction treatment center. Sadie Holland, prevention education manager for the center, said her focus is on developing long-term prevention ob- jectives and strategies for the program. Through the program, presenters share personal stories of their struggles with ad- diction. Holland said the program is suc- cessful at engaging students because they are able to relate to the presenters, who are as young as 20 and no older than 27. She said the peer-to-peer approach helps the message resonate with high school students. “We’re reinforcing what’s already be- ing taught in the health classes, but we’re bringing a new perspective through all of our presenters,” she said. Holland said the decision to visit schools is critical since a vast majority of those with alcohol or drug addiction issues began drinking, smoking or using illicit drugs before the age of 18. “We’re really hoping that by using re- al-life examples. … It’ll change the stu- dents’ attitudes, which hopefully will then change their behavior,” she said. Holland said each presentation also covers the four most common gateway drugs: alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and pills. “The focus is on busting any myths or misconceptions that the students might have about those certain drugs,” she said. A recent study conducted by a research evaluator from the University of Min- nesota showed that nearly one in four (SUBMITTED PHOTO) Anthony Pitaro, an intern with the Know the Truth substance use prevention program, was one of the presenters who spoke Feb. 15 to Wayzata High School students about his experience with addiction. students in the Know the Truth group reported an overall increase in healthy attitudes toward substance use and the risks associated with it, compared to only about one in 12 in the control group (stu- dents who participated in the standard health curriculum). The program at Wayzata High featured three speakers: A current client of Min- nesota Adult and Teen Challenge and two interns with Know the Truth who are graduates of the treatment center. One of the interns who presented was Anthony Pitaro, 23, a recovering drug addict who grew up in Durham, North Carolina. Pitaro said he started smoking cigarettes at 13 after he was offered one by an older friend. “I took to it pretty quick,” he said. Pitaro said he had moved on to mari- juana, alcohol, prescription pills, cocaine and ecstasy before the end of eighth grade. At 16, he began using heroin. A few years later, he started using methamphetamine. “I had been addicted all of my young life and I had never experienced being clean long enough to kind of get to know myself,” he said. Pitaro and another intern, Aubrey Lee, spoke to students about the resources available through Know the Truth and Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge be- fore telling their personal stories dealing with addiction. At the end of the presen- tation, students were asked to participate in an anonymous survey on whether or not they use substances. Pitaro said that during his time with the prevention program, he has discovered a love of working with students. He said his goal is to enroll at Augsburg University to become a special education teacher and work with at-risk youth and people who are using drugs. “I’m hoping to become a teacher and so this was the best opportunity for me to be able to work through my recovery and give back to people while hopefully moving forward to my future,” he said. For more information about treatment services at Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge, call 612-373-3366. Young people who would like to speak with someone from Know the Truth can text or call the hotline at 612-440-3967. For more information, visit knowthet- ruthmn.org. Follow the Sun Sailor on Facebook at facebook.com/mnsunsailor. EDUCATION BRIEFS Empty Bowls will be March 5 at Cooper High The ninth annual Robbinsdale Area Schools Empty Bowls event will be 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, at Robbinsdale Cooper High School, 8230 47th Ave. N., New Hope. The community is invited to enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread donated by local businesses. Handcrafted bowls that were created and donated by community members, local schools and organizations will be available for a donation. The community-wide event helps en- sure that fewer people in the area go home to an “empty bowl” and supports the PRISM and NEAR food shelves, which serve the communities in the district. Local singers, musicians, orchestras and bands will play throughout the evening for attendees. Info: emptybowlsrobbinsdale.org The Blake School reaches campaign goal The Blake School recently announced the successful completion of a $80 million fundraising campaign. The fi ve-year effort focused on increasing fi nancial assistance for students, supporting professional de- velopment for faculty and creating new and improved campus facilities. “I am deeply grateful for the support of our families, colleagues, alumni and students in reaching this milestone,” said Anne Stavney, head of school. The campaign is funding fi nancial as- sistance to 22 percent of the student body of 1,375 students in grades PK-12. Also funded are faculty professional development programs including curric- ulum development grants, new curricu- lum for student immersion experiences, funding for faculty and administrators to pursue graduate studies and for facilities.