Greene County middle and high school students recently had the opportunity to listen to a nationally-renown speaker talk about drug and alcohol prevention.

Ray Lozano is a certified prevention specialist in the state of California. He is also associated with the Elks National Drug Awareness Program. Jefferson Elks member Les Fister says he’s happy that they could get Lozano to speak to Greene County youth.

“Well it’s an awesome opportunity for the kids to learn more about drug awareness. Our children of our community are our richest asset I believe and we want to keep them safe and off of drugs and give them an opportunity to grow up in a good, clean community.”

Lozano walked the students through how the brain reacts when alcohol and drugs are in the body and the dangers of use. He points out that studies indicate that one of the most important reasons why kids don’t use drugs is because of their parents.

“So what I always encourage parents to do is make some kind of policy, something that they can easily explain to kids, we don’t do drugs and alcohol or we don’t abuse drugs and alcohol in this house because…And I want to make sure that it’s clear because if you’re over 21, it’s okay to have a glass of wine or two or night. So I don’t want parents to think, you can’t drink at all, but make it clear to them, ‘I’m over 21, this is way I get to have wine.’”

The program was sponsored by the Jefferson Elks Lodge #2306 and the Iowa Elks Association.