Jenny Pryce and Nicole Rood of the Seaway Valley Prevention Council are among the 29 counselors, educators and representatives from substance abuse prevention agencies named as Regional Coordinators for the 2010-2011 Drug Quiz Show, a statewide drug and alcohol prevention and education program that targets youth in grades 5-8. This Quiz Show will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.

Each year, the Drug Quiz Show challenges more than 30,000 students from more than 200 schools to test their knowledge of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs during game-show style competitions.

Students start off the year with classroom or school-wide playoffs to choose a team that will advance to district and regional events, leading up to the New York State Regional Playoffs and Finals in April 2011 and New York State Finals in May 2011.

Regional Coordinators plan and administer in-school and regional competitions, and instruct students using the Drug Quiz Show “Learning Centers,” a set of core study materials that contains drug abuse prevention information.

This year, new material regarding bullying has been added to the curriculum. In addition, the Alcohol Learning Center has been expanded to include information about Environmental Strategies for fighting alcohol abuse.

“Through the efforts of our Regional Coordinators over the past quarter century, we’ve positively impacted the lives of over half a million middle school students statewide,” said Susan Meidenbauer, Executive Director of the Drug Quiz Show. “We are privileged to have so many talented professionals on-board who are dedicated to helping students make safe, healthy choices.”

For the past 25 years, the Drug Quiz Show has been a fun way for students to learn how to make the right choices when faced with alcohol or drugs while gaining valuable life skills in the process.

“The Drug Quiz Show isn’t just about educating students on the dangers of substance abuse. It enhances attributes like self-confidence, teamwork, and good sportsmanship, and helps students learn about dealing with peer pressure, decision-making and conflict resolution,” Meidenbauer adds.