Community News

Student leaders pledge to combat substance abuse

Student leaders who have pledged to educate their peers on the dangers of substance abuse listen to a proclamation recognizing 'We Are Hope' week.

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 16, 2022

Henderson County high school students who have pledged to combat drug abuse stood and listened to a proclamation read by County Commissioner Rebecca McCall on Wednesday ahead of "We Are Hope" substance abuse awareness week March 7-11.

There were 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the year ending in April 2021, including 75,673 from opiods. In North Carolina high schools in 2019, 37.8 percent of students smoked cigarettes or e-cigarettes, 24.2 drank alcohol, 22.1 percent smoked marijuana, 4.8 percent used alcohol and 16.6 percent  used prescription drugs without a doctor's prescription, according to the CDC's High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

The student leaders pledged to remain substance-free themselves and educate their peers on the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and prescription drug use. The students were from Apple Valley, Flat Rock, Hendersonville and Rugby middle schools, East Henderson, Henderson County Career Academy, Henderson County Early College, Hendersonville High School, North Henderson High School, West Henderson High School and the home school community. The student leaders attending the Board of Commissioners meeting were Nathan Rhodes, Nic Knox, Ivy Juarez, Destiny Simotics and Jordan Brown of East Henderson High School, Ryan Seward, Jackson Cannon and Ben Geiser of Hendersonville High School, Lauren Young and Karsyn Andress of West Henderson High School, Madison White and Jonathan Torres-Tomas of North Henderson High School, Fatima Torres and Ella Neve of Henderson County Early College, Bella Geiser of Mountain Community School and Caleb Harris, representing home school students.