PSS launches biggest anti-meth education campaign

TINIAN—The Public School System has launched here Thursday an education campaign that will combat the spread of illegal drugs by drawing together all of its stakeholders to what could be the biggest drive against all forms of addiction in the Commonwealth.

Public elementary and secondary school students and the school district’s personnel and staff are now advocates of the CNMI-wide massive anti-meth education campaign. The Public School System has partnered with the nonprofit group Marianas Behavioral Health International Inc., whose anti-addiction counselors and experts will partner with Tinian, Rota, and Saipan public schools for this education campaign.

Joined by their school leadership, close to 200 seventh through 12th grade students of Tinian Junior/Senior High School students participated in the campaign yesterday.

The nonprofit group, also called as Friends of Recovery, sent a three-man counselors team here and spoke about the challenges and impact of illegal drugs, such as methamphetamine, marijuana and other illicit substance, and alcoholism. They were comprised of Joey Arriola, Crispin M. Sablan, and Diego M. Sablan.

“This is going to be a huge project for PSS as we continue to promote a drug-free public education environment and at the same time help our community rid of crystal methamphetamine,” Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan said in a separate statement.

In speaking directly to TJSHS students, associate commissioner for Instructional Services Jackie Quitugua urged the need to communicate.

“It really matters to talk to your parents…and when you do that, be open and be honest,” Quitugua said. “On PSS part, we can do this together.”

How it all began

PSS has recognized the growing proliferation of ice and other illicit drugs—and this was further amplified when a Tinian Elementary School pupil, Byron Dela Cruz, 13, used Facebook to denounce the illegal drug problem.

Thursday, he joined TJSHS students and school leaders, the district leadership and the Friends of Recovery on the launching.

“I came out on Facebook last year and wrote that there is a drug problem here on Tinian,” Dela Cruz said in an interview. “(It) is really bad that it is now the most addictive and is spreading out all over our islands.”

“I am scared that it is affecting all our families here,” he added.

Dela Cruz acknowledged how PSS has put together an unprecedented response/campaign.

“I am amazed that PSS is actually responding to my appeal. Yes, I am ready to be an advocate and I am ready to be in the forefront and spread this drive with my peers,” Dela Cruz added.

Arriola, a former lawyer, was one of the three speakers. He opened up at how his addiction ruined everything he had. Today, he is a much better person and an advocate.

“When I was young I was smoking cigarettes, drinking, using marijuana. To hide it, I always had good grades,” Arriola intimated. “I thought I had enough.”

“But I continued doing it because ‘I am the man,’” he said. “Then I want to impress my parents without letting them know what I was doing. I had my master’s degree, my law degree. But I was doing drugs…because ‘I am the man.’”

He went on to become one high-paying and sought-after private litigator in the CNMI. “I started to feel not just the man but invincible. My law practice was amazing; I was making money…a lot of money.”

And one day, he revealed, “someone said to me, ‘Joey there is really a nice drug called methamphetamine or ‘ice’ and you’ve got to try this. This will relax you,’”

It happened so fast. He lost everything after that.

“Because I really thought I was the man,” he admitted.

His embrace of his past mistakes has won him the support of the Public School System and the community. He is now a partner of the biggest anti-drug campaign that the district has ever launched.

He strongly advocated that the community must support PSS fight against the spread of illegal drugs.

“I pray and hope that I made an impact to all of you. This is not a joke. Make a choice. God bless you all,” Arriola said.

The PSS Meth Project is not only limited to the spread of crystal methamphetamine but will also focus in curbing and preventing problem related to teenage alcohol use and abuses, tobacco and betel nut chewing.

A recent published report revealed that just last year alone there were more than 15,000 crimes that were reported to the Department of Public Safety. The report the describing it “staggering sad reality.”
The said report further disclosed that methamphetamine or “ice” problem in the recent past two years has increased.