For more than a quarter-century, Students Against Destructive Decisions has been empowering students to make a difference in the lives of their peers, saving thousands of young lives along the way.
On the organization’s 25th anniversary last month SADD students and their schools celebrated the organization’s work to remind teens to lead a safe, healthy lifestyle and to help their friends make the right choices, according to Daniel Vocelle of Vero Beach, Fla., SADD national student of the year.
During the week of Oct. 30 through Nov. 3, SADD chapters held themed activities focusing on key issues such as underage drinking, other drug use, and safe driving. Many chapters also held special ceremonies Nov. 2, bringing together community members, including law enforcement officers, teachers, parents, and local elected officials.
“SADD’s 25th birthday is an opportunity to both celebrate and to reflect: to celebrate the accomplishments of hundreds of thousands of teens and adults over a quarter-century and to reflect on the work that remains to be done,” stated Penny Wells, president and executive director of SADD. “Through consistent, thoughtful and creative contributions by young people empowered to help their friends, we will continue to make strides in saving teen lives.”
SADD was founded at Wayland High School in Wayland, Mass., in the fall of 1981 following the tragic deaths of two students in separate alcohol-related crashes that happened less than two weeks apart. Hockey coach Bob Anastas and a group of students decided to name their group Students Against Driving Drunk to capture the responsibility teens themselves had for their behavior. “If the problem is mine, then the solution lies with me” became their popular slogan. Realizing that parents needed to be more involved with their teens, a contract called the “Contract for Life” was developed and continues to be widely used today.
More information about SADD is available at www.sadd.org.
