How much do kids know about substance abuse? Ask them. Or better yet, ask them to create five-minute movies on the topic! In Epping, New Hampshire, a group of student filmmakers received the opportunity to show their short films at a youth film festival, all with eye on substance misuse.
From WMUR 9:
O’Neil Cinemas in Epping is hosting a a special film festival through Monday, showcasing short films about substance misuse made by New Hampshire middle- and high-school students.
The sixth-annual Granite Youth Film Festival not only gives student filmmakers the chance to shoot their own movie, but also to watch them on the big screen, all while learning and teaching about the dangers of abusing drugs and alcohol.
“We talk about why the age for alcohol use, marijuana use and soon to be tobacco use is 21,” said Epping High School student Faith Williamson.
“It’s about prescription drugs you can get over the counter and how peer pressure can really have an influence,” Farmington High School student Michael Wolforth said of his film.
“It’s about a girl, and she is shielding her little sister from all the harm that’s (happening) out in the world,” Jazmyne Rowe, who attends Seabrook Middle School, said about her short movie.
The students produced five-minute films to raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse, a serious topic that’s not lost on the teenagers.
“There is definitely an issue,” Wolforth said. “There’s an epidemic about over the counter drugs we really don’t focus on in school. We focus on don’t, ‘Don’t do marijuana, don’t do cocaine,’ because those are illegal drugs, but prescription drugs are so much easier to get.”
“I think it’s very important,” Williamson said. “I think, youth – they’re starting even younger lately to drink or do drugs, and I think it’s important for them to learn why not to do it.”
The films give adults insight into how much kids see and already know.
“It’s everywhere, and no one wants to talk about it,” parent Jennifer Wolforth said. “To see this with these kids, it’s just fantastic.”
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