Student taskforce aims to help curb underage drinking

Everyone knows that peer influence, or peer pressure, is extremely strong in high school. One student group at Daingerfield High School is working to use their influence for good, telling their peers the dangers of underage drinking and substance abuse.

Last fall, when the Northeast Texas Coalition against Substance Abuse began meeting in Daingerfield, Coalition coordinators and members felt it was important to get students involved in the coalition. Now, a year later, not only are those students still involved in the Student Taskforce, but they have added new members to their numbers, as well.

Members of the Task Force who have returned for a second year include Camryn Byrd, Matthew Sutton, Baylee Welch, Skylar Williams, Graci Runk, Madison Cox, Meagan Cox, and Courtney Makepeace. Those students who remain from last year’s Task Force are mostly seniors, and have varied reasons for joining the group in the first place. From wanting to be leaders in their community, to seeing a problem to which they want to be a part of the solution, the students’ reasons are as varied as they are. However it all comes down to this: “A Peer influence is better than an adult influence,” said Baylee Welch.

The Student Task Force began last year by placing posters and signs on campus, warning their peers of the dangers of substance abuse, specifically of underage drinking. Regionally, 65% of students that drink, get their alcohol from friends and family. So the fact that the Task Force worked to bring that number to light, shows the students willingness to take charge and make a difference in their community.

The students also formed a social media campaign via Twitter, calling it #RethinktheDrink. Through the campaign, they asked students to submit responses and photos as to why they “rethink the drink.” The group held contests during prime times for underage drinking, namely spring break and prom/graduation season.

Students recognized the importance of their work, noting that junior high age students, as well as other school districts, are becoming involved in their efforts. But, the true barometer of their work can be seen when one of their peers chooses to “get clean,” as Makepeace shared. “I had a classmate come to me, who told me that because of what we had done last year and the campaigns, that he chose to work hard and get clean,” said Makepeace.

If that student is the only one positively affected by the Task Force’s work, then it will be successful. However, their main goal can be summed up by two statements by second year Task Force members. Matthew Sutton said, “We want to change the environment that kids are in,” while classmate Graci Runk added, “We want to show them that underage drinking is a problem.”