SACO — You don’t need drugs or alcohol to have fun.

That was one of the messages York High School students from the group T.I.D.A.L.W.A.V.S.E,  an acronym for “Teens In Drug Awareness Leading Working and Valuing Self-Esteem,” gave Thornton Academy at an assembly Friday morning, as part of Red Ribbon Week, a week-long series of drug prevention events held at Thornton Academy and other area schools.

“We want to inspire you to be the best you can be,” said Gina Brodsky, a counselor at York High School and co-advisor to the group of student advocates, which has 23 members.

Brodsky said alcohol and drug use are glorified in television and movies, and are often portrayed as a right of passage for teens.

“We want to give a face to the majority,” she said. She said most teens do not use drugs, and added that 90 percent of the alcohol in the country is consumed by 10 percent of the population.

Members of the group discussed their “natural highs” including playing sports, eating their favorite foods and spending time with friends and they invited members of the audience to share ways they have a good time without using illegal substances.

“We don’t believe we’re any better than anyone else,” said Brodsky. “We believe we’ve made a healthier choice.”

Members of T.I.D.A.L.W.A.V.S.E. discussed why they had joined the group. Some, like Co-Vice President Ryan Webb, said they had family members who struggled with addiction.

Webb said his grandmother was an alcoholic, and as a result had liver failure and died before he was born. Substance abuse doesn’t just impact the person using, but it can also impact their family members and close friends, he said.

President Julia Harrod said she was part of the group because she wanted to have authentic self-esteem.

Harrod said the group makes a big impact on other students at York High School because many members are leaders in sports or extra-curricular activities or are very personable and not afraid to talk to others.

Students at York High School who want to join the group must apply, and because demand was so great, another group, Sober Friends, which now has more than 200 members, was created.

Brodsky and T.I.D.A.L.W.A.V.S.E. co-adviser Sarah Bolanos, have also helped other schools create student advocacy and drug prevention groups.

“We definitely are committed to make it cool to be clean,” said Brodsky.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.