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Drums Not Drugs
An Innovative
Prevention Program for Youth
 Research
suggests that youth who live in communities that offer exciting and positive
after-school programs and activities are less likely to engage in substance
abuse. In addition, youth who participate in these activities have
higher self-esteem, develop interpersonal communication, self-discipline,
and leadership skills, and generally posses a stronger sense of self and
community worth than those who do not.
Since 1990, Birmingham Group Health Services' Valley Substance Abuse Action
Council (VSAAC) has been a pioneer in substance abuse education and
prevention efforts in the Valley community. As part of these education
and prevention efforts, VSAAC (with help from grants awarded by The
Katherine Matthies Foundation and The Community Foundation for Greater New
Haven) implemented the creative and innovative Drums Not Drugs
program - a unique substance abuse prevention program that utilizes the
arts, history, diversity, and team work to keep kids off drugs.
The Program:
The Drums Not Drugs Program is a 12 week (2 x 2 hour after-school sessions
per week) that teaches participants the art of crafting, and performing
with, authentic African-Djembe drums. Participants are first taught to
hand-craft their own drums using actual goat skins and other natural
materials that are provided through the program. Once the drums have
been crafted, students are then instructed in how to play them.
Emphasis during this stage of the program is placed on individual hand
placement and posture, running hand exercises, and the mastering of
Afro-Caribbean rhythms. In the final stages of the program,
participants are taught to play the drums as a group and are given a variety
of opportunities to perform throughout the community. The culminating
project is the production of a music CD to showcase their newfound musical
and performance talents.
Program Objectives:
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Drums Not
Drugs enhances the effectiveness of existing programs in deterring drug
use among young people because it highlights positive youth development
activities for participants' peers in their own neighborhoods while
encouraging parents and other adults to recognize the influence these
programs have on youth behavior and development.
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Drums Not
Drugs provides alternative after-school programming to students,
emphasizing a strong anti-substance abuse message.
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Drums Not
Drugs Provides disadvantaged youth with the opportunity to become peer
mentors and youth leaders through participation in the program.
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Drums Not
Drugs promotes cultural diversity, self-expression, leadership skills, and
both personal and group worth. Drums Not Drugs provides a powerful
forum for the encouragement of the internal discipline, structure, and
group cohesion inherent in Caribbean and West African drumming.
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Drums Not
Drugs provides opportunities for youth to present their drumming skills to
community through performances and presentations.
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Drums Not
Drugs creates a youth-led entrepreneurship program in which participants
are empowered to promote their new performing group, engage community
members in the program, and encourage other youth to support their
efforts.
How Can I Get Involved?:
For more
information about the Drums Not Drugs program, to become a program sponsor
or volunteer, or to become a participant, contact The Valley Substance Abuse
Action Council (VSAAC) at (203) 736-8566 today!
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