The Alliance for Marijuana Prevention Coalition (AMP), a subcommittee of the Coalition for a Drug Free Muskegon (DFC), is hosting their seventh forum, Shattering the Myths. The forum will take place on Wednesday, September 18th from 8 to 9 a.m. and again from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Reeths Puffer High School. Our freshmen and sophomore classes will join Fresh Coast Alliance and members of AMP in the Rocket Centre to hear real life stories of individuals that made negative choices, which led them down a road of substance use addiction and eventually incarceration.
Nate Johnson, Re-entry and Outreach Director at Fresh Coast Alliance, states, “The biggest myth of all is that the negative choices we make today will not affect us later on in life. At this forum, we can attest to that. We are the result of the choices we made when we were younger, and how those choices have affected us today. In my experience, dabbling with drugs and then selling drugs up until the time I went to prison, I have never met a crack addict, heroin addict, meth addict--whatever addict--that didn’t first start smoking marijuana," stated Johnson.
The Shattering the Myths forums first took place at Muskegon Community College; and due to the positive response the forums have had, the forum has been expanded to other schools in Muskegon, such as North Muskegon High School, Orchard View High School, Fruitport High School, Muskegon High School, and Muskegon Heights High School.
"Choices, good or bad, we still have to deal with the consequences," states Lt. Brandon Poel of Norton Shores Police Department, and Chair of the Alliance for Marijuana Prevention Coalition (AMP). These speakers have all made negative choices and continue having to deal with these consequences. Their stories are real, they are "edge-of-your-seat" riveting, and they involve fellow students who graduated from Muskegon County school districts, including Reeths-Puffer. Now, they are on a mission to give back to their community in a positive way. Help us teach your children to make positive life choices."
AMP is encouraging parents to talk to their kids about substance use. “The sooner parents talk to their kids about drug use, the better,” said Lt Brandon Poel, Chair of the Alliance for Marijuana Prevention Coalition. “Parents who don’t know how to start the conversation can visit talksooner.org, or download the free app filled with tips and resources,” he added.
Meanwhile, in the 2018 MiPHY survey of Muskegon County teens, only 41% think marijuana use is risky; 48% report it would be easy or very easy to get marijuana; and 16% say they have used marijuana in the past 30 days. Alcohol, Tobacco, and Marijuana remain to be the highest used substances among youth, and 12 to 13 years old are when students say they are trying or experimenting with substances. MiPHY is short for the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth survey issued by the Michigan Department of Education.