What could possibly motivate over two dozen teenagers to leave their beds during summer vacation on an early Saturday morning? Big Sean’s DON Weekend at the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan. (BGCSM) The festivities kicked off with a presentation by our very own Christoper Wolf Crusaders: students who traveled to Atlanta back in June to learn all about the opioid epidemic. Our crusaders lead a peer to peer ambassador program for students to learn about the opioid epidemic.

The Crusaders are apart of a pilot certification program spearheaded by Cammie Rice and The Christopher Wolf Crusade. The collaboration between CWC, BGCSM, and Usher’s New Look is set to educate youth across the globe on addiction and prevention. More details will be announced later this year.

Our mission is to educate youth about methods of prevention and signs of opioid abuse, beginning with our Crusaders.

Those seven Crusaders led their peers in a series of social experiments and games on Saturday morning, designed to educate them about the methods they brainstormed during their trip to Atlanta. As their peers filed in the room they were offered different colored Mike and Ike candies that — unbeknownst to the students — represented pills with different side effects. In a presentation, they revealed that green candies represented those who overdosed from drug use at a party, yellow represented those who became addicted to opioids through a doctors prescription, red represented those who experimented with drugs and became addicted, and so on.

Two students who indulged in the candies, 11th grade Jai’lee and college freshman Shannon, said they were “sick” that they fell into the trap.

“I’m just rolling with the punches,” Shannon said as she downed a handful of pink candies. “It’ll be fine.”

However, her face quickly sobered as Rice shared real life statistics about opioid addiction.

“Opioid addiction is your generations epidemic,” said Rice.

She went on to point out the messages endorsing opioid use in music. The seven student ambassadors led a game of musical chairs where students had to point out the lyrics that referenced drug use.

Roy Ridgle, 19, participated in the game and said the activity helped him become more focused on the things he digests.

“[Lyrics] usually go in one ear and out the other,” said Ridgle. “[I] will pay attention to lyrics more.”

At BGCSEM students get a safe space to explore their interests, talents, and become informed about social issues in a fun environment. Consider a youth or adult membership today!

ABRIANA WALTON