Several Cumberland High School students attended the 31st annual Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Program (YADAPP) July 20-24 at Longwood University.

Students focused on the effects and prevention of drug abuse in their school and community and discussed how they could make a difference.  

As part of the conference each team was asked to develop a Strategies To Act Now Plan (STAN Plan). STAN Plans included awareness initiatives such as posters, anti-drinking or smoking promise banners, guest speakers to discuss challenges teens face and the consequences of poor choices and a campus-wide assembly.

Drug testing of athletes at school was discussed.

Students presented their STAN Plan at the Sept. 25 school board meeting.

They plan to implement part of the STAN Plan in October. 

Team members included senior August Hawk, juniors Shayna Swanson, Brittny Price, Trevon Foster and John Jeffries.

Sponsors were Melissa Santmyer and Allen Waechter. Alumni Justin Caban attended the conference as a junior staff leader.

Since YADAPP’s beginning in 1984, over 440 schools and 10,000 students have helped their schools learn about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol. 

This year’s conference had 86 teams and nearly 90 adult sponsors from across the state.