High schoolers dress as clowns to spread anti-drug message

A group of clowns recently delivered a pretty straightforward and serious message to third-graders at Glen Hill School.

The Students for Students club at Glenbard West High School dressed up as clowns to perform skits on staying away from tobacco and alcohol.

"We've been doing it for a very long time," said Gilda Ross, sponsor of the club. "The high school kids have a great time dressing up."

The high schoolers were mostly surprised, Ross said, that children so young needed a lesson on drugs.

"They're exposed to these things so young," said Roxanne Sarrett, a sophomore at Glenbard West. "They should learn that (smoking or drinking) is not a healthy, good decision to make."

Allan Dunlao, a senior, said the children were pretty educated already on several of the topics.

"We had a lot of participation, with volunteers raising their hands," he said.

Sarah Leonard, a sophomore, said much of the lesson focused on what alcohol and drugs do to the body.

"We told them how much healthier they would be if they didn't start any of that," she said.

Ross said the club is focused on spreading awareness first in the schools and then to the community at large.

"The high school kids, when they become parents, hopefully they'll become aware of the problems kids have to face," she said. "This early onset exposure predisposes lifelong problems. It really is critical to have kids abstain for as long as possible so there aren't lifetime issues with drug use."