BY KATIE GRIFFIN
New guidance counselor at Wadsworth High School, Mrs. Beal has introduced Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D) Club. S.A.D.D club’s mission is to provide students with prevention techniques against actions such as underage drinking, drug use, unsafe driving and other destructive decisions.
“SADD club is always evolving and it depends on the students that are in there and what they like to do and what they want to do,” said Mrs. Beal, guidance counselor.
The club plans to branch out this year and become more involved within the community and educate people on harmful decisions and how to prevent them.
“Some members are really looking forward to going to the elementary buildings and being that voice, some of them want to build things, we’re looking at getting something together for the [Blue Tip] Parade,” Beal said.
SADD club wants to educate parents on how to help their children make the right decisions to stay healthy.
“One of the things that we were talking about today was about parents and their influence as to what they do and don’t allow,” Beal said. “For example, a lot of parents don’t understand vaping because it is fairly new and they just don’t know signs to look for.”
The idea of the SADD club did not originate from Mrs. Beal. It has been an ever-evolving idea that has been put into place around the world.
“It started as MADD club, mothers against drunk driving, and then it evolved to SADD, Students Against Drunk Driving, then SADD again, Students Against Doing Drugs because they tried to make it a little broader,” Beal said. “Now it’s super broad, Students Against destructive decisions.”
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Many students are coming with the purpose of educating others about the dangers of drugs and other destructive decisions after they have been personally impacted by it.
“A lot of students have a passion one way or another, only because it has affected them personally,” Beal said. “It’s been a friend or it’s been something that they’ve seen that has impacted them.”
The SADD club officially meets once a month during academic lab, but students work on projects together outside of meeting times.
If students are interested in joining the SADD club, they are able to fill out the form sent by Mrs. Beal, or send her an email. There is a $25 fee required to join the club, as well as mandatory drug testing.
