High School freshman visit Muldown, discuss healthy living

"Have you ever taken drugs?"

"Why would you smoke?"

"Is there a drug problem in Whitefish?"

These are just a few questions elementary students at Muldown peppered at a dozen Whitefish High School freshman on Oct. 29 as a part of Red Ribbon Week — the nation's longest running drug prevention program.

The ninth-graders, standing tall in front of the young eyes cast upon them, fielded the questions with poise and confidence.

"Have you ever been offered drugs?" a third-grader asked a high school student.

Honest in his responses, one of the freshman said, quite bluntly, "Yes. It was in about seventh grade."

"Why would you smoke?" another third-grader asked.

"There is no good reason, you shouldn't," the freshman responded.

The question and answer session at Muldown wasn't just an effort to raise awareness about leading a healthy life — it also reiterated the importance of showing good leadership skills to the ninth-graders.

"With Whitefish being such a small community, we want the freshman to get involved in leadership and to know that young kids are always looking up to them," Michelle Kuntz, director of Whitefish CARE, said. "It also lets the younger kids know it's truly OK to say, 'No,' and it reiterates that it is the right thing to do."

Red Ribbon week started in 1985 to memorialize DEA Special Agent Enriqu "Kiki" Camarena, who was kidnapped, brutally tortured and murdered by Mexican drug traffickers.

Students across the country wear red ribbons during the week as a pledge to lead a drug-free life.

Whitefish schools celebrated the program from Oct. 26- Nov. 1 with a variety of events aimed at giving students safe and healthy activities during Halloween week.

A free movie night was offered on Thursday at Signature Stadium 14 in Kalispell, while Friday and Saturday featured Halloween themed dances sponsored by Whitefish CARE for middle school and high school students.

"Red Ribbon week is about providing alternative activities," Kuntz said. "It's not just about, 'Don't do drugs.' We are giving the kids a place to go."

Kuntz said that while Red Ribbon week is an important program, leading a healthy lifestyle year-round is even more vital to the health of the community.

"Whitefish CARE is always coming up with ways to help parents be better parents and encouraging kids do the right thing," she said.

Whitefish CARE is looking for volunteers and is preparing to kick off a mentoring program this winter. For more information, follow the Whitefish CARE link at the Whitefish School District's Web page, www.wfps.k12.mt.us.