For the past 25 years, PRIDE of St. Tammany has worked hard to educate the youth of the parish of the dangers and pitfalls of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Now, the torch is being passed to another group—AMPLIFY.

Drew Lehmann, director of both groups, said that while breaking off from the national PRIDE organization may sound like a drastic measure, Lehmann said the group has developed their own programs and broaden them. The group will stay local and things like the PRIDE troupe will now be known as AMPLIFY Youth.

As part of the change, the AMPLIFY Youth group, 170 students strong, are conducing a poll of their members to design their new shirts. They are stronger than ever and continually planning events and performing at schools regularly, not only during the highly publicized Red Ribbon Week.

The message will be the same. But anyone who has seen the group perform knows it’s not as simple as “Don’t do drugs.”

They include statistics and down to earth information about substance abuse and will continue to do so. The material they use in performances like songs and skits is original, but only part of the story. The group’s influence off the stage is just as important in getting the message out to their peers.

Lehmann said the new name will not change anything the group has done. They will still conduct education and entertainment exposing the dangers of drugs, tobacco and alcohol, with summer training sessions as well as AMPLIFY Youth performances.

What AMPLIFY will do is to broaden programs and outreach and develop new programs to fit the new demands and pressures faced by 21st century youth and culture. Lehmann said that people in other areas and regions across the nation have asked how he has gotten so many young people involved in his program.

So part of AMPLIFY’s program will be to spread their group to other areas.

In fact, Lehmann said the AMPLIFY organization will retain the same board of directors as PRIDE of St. Tammany.

He said although the national PRIDE group will no longer have a local affiliate, the new AMPLIFY group will continue to be diligent in educating parents and students about the facts and dangers of substance abuse, including tobacco, drugs and alcohol.