Testimonials
The most important audience members of a Drug Story Theater show are students and adolescents across the Commonwealth. Parents, teachers, coalitions, task forces, district attorneys, medical professionals and elected officials are doing their best to bring our show to kids across the Commonwealth to bring awareness to the opioid crisis, reduce the stigma of addiction, and to teach kids about their amazing brains so that they will be less likely to abuse them with drugs and alcohol. Here's what people have to say about Drug Story Theater:
Worcester County DA Joseph Early and the cast of The Price You Pay: Second Chances
"The fact that they were so close in age struck me. They show how it goes from an innocent experience, like smoking weed or drinking, to a full blown addiction. It just showed how it transpired. -Jason Darcy, a student at Marshfield High School
"I would like to thank Drug Story Theater for your excellent presentation at our Annual Student Wellness Conference. Seeing so many students raise their hands to ask questions is a testament to the effectiveness of your program. It was one of the best drug-prevention presentations I have seen, and I am happy to report that I have received lots of positive feedback from others." -Worcester County DA Joseph D. Early, Jr
"I just wanted to say thankyou for that presentation. As a high school student going into adolescent psychology after graduation, this was an amazing experience for me. I can't thank you enough for bringing this to my high school." - Avery Sherwood, a student at Carver High School
"This program truly makes a difference in the battle we are waging with opiate addiction. What began as idea in Dr. Strand’s mind has proven to be an effective way of communicating the danger and cost of addiction." -State Senator Vinny deMacedo, Plymouth and Barnstable District
“I want to take this time to applaud your young actors and actresses from today's performance at Milton High School. I am a teacher for MHS and drug abuse has been very close to me personally. My best friend lost his daughter to drugs and my nephew has been clean and sober for 6 years. I understand the struggle recovering addicts deal with and think their effort to stop others and spread the word in commendable. They totally rock!
One of my favorite things to tell the students is that their frontal lobes are not connected yet and it is not their fault they make horrible decisions. So thank you for adding the science piece too. I think the more they hear it the better prepared they will be.
Please let your troupe know how impressed I was with them.” -Kathleen Kelley, Teacher at Milton High School
The original cast of The Price You Pay at the Statehouse with Governor Charlie Baker and State Senator Vinny deMacedo
Kayla, Alison and Erin, students from Quincy High School, reading impact statements about the personal effects of the opioid crisis on each of their families.
"Thank you to your amazing team for sharing your Drug Story Theater program with our 7th and 8th graders. Your message was very impactful, and if just one audience member chooses not to use drugs and alcohol, then we have been successful, although I predict many more will think twice before trying because of what they learned from your today." -Patty DeBoer, Superintendent, Mashpee Public Schools
"You guys are like wonderful missionaries...telling the much needed stories to bring addiction to light and show there IS life beyond addiction." -Carrie Sylvester, a parent
"Thank you guys so much for visiting Falmouth High School today. You are all inspirational and made me not want to do drugs and alcohol ever" - a Falmouth High student via Facebook
"What can I say? It was really a great night. Your cast, writer and their families are amazing! What an important presentation for our parents and we are excited to have our 8th graders see the presentation. Dr. Shrand is amazing- What a big heart! Thank you for bringing this intervention to us." - Maura Papile, Senior Director of Student Support Services, Quincy Public Schools
“It helped me a lot; they went into detail when they explained it, showing how bad these drugs and addictions can get. When people start doing drugs, you’d guess they’re thinking about how it will affect others’ lives, but they don’t. The brain doesn’t let them think about how [their drug/alcohol use] affects their family and friends, but it affects them a lot.” - Abby, a student at Mashpee Middle-High School
"The students were engaged in the message of the performance. They liked the fact that these were not actors, but real life stories told by the ones that experienced them." - A teacher at Bishop Stang High School, Dartmouth, MA
Drug Story Theater at Quincy Central Middle School with State Senator John Keenan and Maura Papile, Senior Director of Student Support Services.