5.4   Lesson 4: Risks of Presumably Protective "Structured" Activities

Youth, particularly middle school and high school students, frequently described organized and supervised activities as opportunities to gain access to and use drugs. Youth cited the following examples:

• School dances, music concerts, and other extracurricular events are scenes of shootings or other drug-related violence.
• Students often commented on the fact that athletic competitions, whether on their own school campus or on another school's grounds, offer an opportunity to buy drugs. Many youth noted that school athletes often "relax" after a game by drinking beer and using other drugs. They described the locker room as a frequent scene of drug deals.
• Youth frequently described organized activities as risky opportunities, but their parents generally were not aware that these activities expose their children to drug use.

These situations need to be addressed by new ads developed for the Media Campaign.