DRUG-FREE MESSAGE DELIVERED TO CAPE STUDENTS

Cape Girardeau sixth, seventh and eight-grade students clapped, danced and sang along with Ron Cole of Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday.

Cole, 33, presented a mini-concert of music from the 1960s to the 1980s to show students they could have fun without using alcohol or drugs.

He told the more than 800 students he has never used drugs, tasted alcohol or smoked cigarettes.

Singing rock 'n' roll, country and soul tunes, he did impressions of singers from those decades.

Cole's impressions included Elvis Presley's flipped up collar and swiveling hips, Stevie Wonder in sunglasses and bobbing head and Michael Jackson doing the moonwalk.

Cole told the students from Cape Girardeau's public schools and St. Vincent De Paul Elementary School some students use alcohol to forget problems or to be accepted.

And, he urged students not to believe people who say, "Everyone's doing it."

"I haven't missed a thing," Cole said of not using drugs, adding that drugs "bring people down."

Alcohol and drugs will hurt students bodies, brains and futures, he said, adding that he has seen pain and sorrow from alcohol and drug abuse over the years.

A year after making a presentation to a school, he returned to find students mourning the deaths of seven friends from an alcohol-related accident.

"They were seeing the results of what alcohol can do, some for the first time," he said.

Cole told the students they have the knowledge to get through life without drugs, alcohol or cigarettes and that they can be examples by staying away from these substances.

Cole told the students to be prepared for what's ahead and aware of what can harm them.

Some acquaintances will try to persuade them to try drugs, but they don't need to know what that feels like, he said.

They need to stay firm in their resolve and believe in themselves.

If they fail, they should pick themselves up and go on, Cole said. Everyone has choices to make and if they take that first step in a negative direction, it's harder to step back.

Cole is happy with himself and his image and having a drink with someone to secure a recording contract wasn't for him.

Tom Dohogne, student council president at Schultz school, said, "Most of the messages on not using drugs are boring. They pass around some brochures that students just tear up and throw away. He (Cole) wasn't like that."

Terrie Welch, coordinator of the school district's Alcohol, Substance Abuse Prevention program, said it was an important message for the students.

"Unless we get a positive message like this, we won't know that it's OK to be drug free," Welch said. "If the students see a positive role model, they can realize that they can do that too. It's time for them to decide."