For some young people, it’s the adrenalin rush of whitewater rafting or barrel racing; for others it’s the challenge and natural beauty of hunting, or the wholesome and unconditional love of a pet. Whether indoors or out, alone or in a group, Jefferson County students put pen to paper this fall to reflect on the things in life that give them a natural high, free from substance use.
The essays were part of the 2021 Red Ribbon Week, which ran Oct. 23–31 nationwide and aimed to engage young people in activities that prevent substance use. According to Jefferson County Prevention Specialist and DUI Task Force Coordinator Barb Reiter, students from around the county submitted essays as part of a contest held by the Jefferson County Tobacco Use Prevention Program and Jefferson County Prevention.
Students were asked to write 250–300 words on the prompt, “For me a natural high looks like …” Reiter wrote in an email, adding that “the goal was to have students think of ways to reach natural highs that are healthy instead of using substances.”
