Santa Maria Valley Students Party to Spread a Message

Thousands of junior high students around the Santa Maria area are spreading a message to their community to be drug and alcohol free.

Seventh and 8 th graders took over the Abel Maldonado for the annual “Free 4 the Weekend,” event.

Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley, a non-profit group puts on the event each year. The party was complete with a DJ, dancing, a rock climbing wall, sumo wrestling and event a trailer with a place to play video games.

All of the activities are provided by local businesses to promote a drug and alcohol free life.

Edwin weaver, the executive director of Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley, said, “The Healthy Kids Survey of California lets us know drugs and alcohol is a big problem starting in 7 th grade; We have 20 percent of kids trying marijuana for the first time 30 percent of the kids drinking alcohol at that age. We really want to start at that age and say this is something you don’t want to be a part of.

Natalie Tayahua a student from Fesler Junior High School said, “It’s a great message to send out to the youth because there is other ways besides resorting to drugs and alcohol to have fun.”

Danika Louk a student from Fesler said, “We can do anything else but drugs and alcohol, it’s not cool, it’s going to damage your body.”