Group holds anti-drug conference

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - The Rhode Island Student Assistance Services hosted its "Staying Ahead of Youth Drug Trends” conference on Monday. The one-day conference was held at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick.

The RISAS has been providing trained student assistance counselors to Rhode Island schools to work with youth coping with alcohol and other drug issues for 25 years.

The conference included ten interactive workshops with local and national speakers and elected officials.

It also included speeches from five local high school teens about their experiences on drugs in their schools.

North Kingstown high school student Savannah Martin says "Once you get older, you realize how many more kids are doing it and just to act cool and they think that it's the thing to do when it's really not. Personally I think almost anyone has had to say no, but in my experience when I say no they don't ask me again."

The Conference executive director says they are really targeting marijuana and designer drug prevention and after noticing both have recently surpassed alcohol in popularity among teens.

Monday’s conference aimed to arm students and local leaders who are working the front lines to combat drug use.