LHS drama performs drug awareness play | Schools

The following is a press release from the Laurel School District:

Red Ribbon Week is a yearly focus on educating the public about the dangers of drugs. This year, Robert Little of the Jones County Sheriff’s Dept. and Lynn Kitchen of Christ’s Church of Laurel created the display and the performance of “ Journey of a Junkie,” which was performed six nights at the South Mississippi Fair. Maggie Farrell, the drama teacher of Laurel High School, wrote the script and the LHS Drama Team performed it nearly thirty times on Thursday night at the fair.

“I think we all realized by doing this play that drug addiction can happen to anyone. It’s just doesn’t affect you, it affects everyone around you. No one in the cast expected this play to be so emotional. We were all moved to tears during the performance,” said Allen Smith, a performer in the play.

Michelle Abney, who portrayed the mother in the play, enjoyed reaching out to the community.

“I want to thank the community for giving us a chance, as teenagers, to be a part of this movement about drug awareness,” she said.

Another phase of the drug awareness program involved taking the message in to the school. During Red Ribbon Week, Adam and Jade Patrick, the directors of Dying to Live Ministries, a drug rehab ministry in Laurel, spoke to the students about the dangers of drug abuse and the struggle to overcome addiction.