Baltimore, Maryland — HOPE Youth Alliance (HOPEYA) joined the Maryland National Guard Counterdrug Program to recognize approximately 70 ninth-grade students from The SEED School of Maryland for completing a youth drug prevention program focused on prevention education, positive decision-making, leadership, and community impact.
The students, part of Class SS26-001, completed the Drug Demand Reduction Outreach program, a prevention education initiative designed to help young people better understand substance use risks, peer influence, personal safety, and healthy choices.
As part of the program, the ninth-grade class completed 12 lessons from Stanford REACH Lab’s Safety First drug prevention curriculum. The curriculum provides students with honest, age-appropriate, and evidence-informed education about alcohol and other drugs, while encouraging young people to avoid substance use and make informed decisions.
This youth drug prevention program gave students an opportunity to strengthen awareness, ask questions, build confidence, and learn practical prevention strategies in a supportive classroom setting. The lessons emphasized real-life decision-making, personal responsibility, health, safety, and the importance of positive peer and community support.
The Maryland National Guard Counterdrug Program provides specialized military resources to help disrupt illegal drug trafficking and reduce drug demand. Its Drug Demand Reduction Outreach efforts support prevention, education, youth engagement, and community-based initiatives that help reduce the impact of substance misuse.
Through this collaboration, HOPE Youth Alliance and the Maryland National Guard Counterdrug Program helped create a meaningful learning experience for students at The SEED School of Maryland. The recognition ceremony celebrated not only the completion of the program, but also the students’ commitment to learning, leadership, and healthier futures.
Together, these efforts reflect the power of community partnerships in supporting young people before challenges become crises. Prevention education gives students tools they can carry beyond the classroom — helping them make safer choices, support their peers, and become positive leaders in their communities.
Organization of Hope congratulates the students of Class SS26-001 at The SEED School of Maryland and thanks the Maryland National Guard Counterdrug Program for its continued commitment to prevention, outreach, and community impact.
This youth drug prevention program represents an important investment in Maryland’s youth, families, and communities.
