Prevention Is Primary (PIP) will be taking its program to a whole new level this summer with two of its partner schools. “Extreme PIP,” a day camp opportunity for up to thirty 4th and 5th grade student leaders per session will take place at the South Buffalo Charter School from August 9^th-13^th and at Alden Intermediate School from August 16^th-20^th. The week-long experience will prepare the students to be positive forces in their schools starting in the fall. 

 

The camps will take place at the schools from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. The students will complete leadership and team-building exercises, create team t-shirts, plan projects for the coming school year to encourage healthy behaviors, and rehearse “reader’s theater” plays that will be performed, videotaped, and shown to individual classrooms in September. The plays will discourage alcohol, tobacco and other drug use while promoting healthy choices and set the stage for the rest of the programming that will take place in the months that follow. If successful, “Extreme PIP” will be made available to additional partner schools next summer.

 

For more information on any PIP Programs, contact Deb Speth at 884-3256, ext. 215 or daspeth@pfocus.org.

 

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For 6 to 9 million Americans each year, gambling becomes an issue that causes serious financial and legal problems, loss of personal relationships, and damage to physical and mental health. Opportunities for gambling and social acceptance of gambling have increased dramatically in recent years. 

 

Teens are especially susceptible to becoming problem gamblers. Approximately 4%-8% of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 years of age meet the criteria for a gambling problem and another 10%-15% are at risk of developing a problem. The earlier in life a person starts gambling, the more likely they are to become a problem gambler. If unchecked, problem gambling can lead to loss of large sums of money, damaged personal relationships, crime, substance abuse, depression, and even suicide.

 

In an effort to build awareness of this important issue, Preventionfocus, Inc. has created materials using the slogan “Teen Gambling: It’s a Bad Bet!” to help parents, educators, youth workers, and teens themselves understand the scope of problem gambling and recognize the warning signs so more teens get help when they need it. Fact sheets for educators and parents, posters, and table tent cards are all available free of charge while supplies last. For more information, contact Suzanne Berst at 884-3256, ext. 206 or spberst@pfocus.org. 

 

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