Kinloch Kids Paint No to Drugs

Usually when we hear the word “graffiti,” it is associated with something negative: criminal behavior, gang activity, groups of youngsters up to no good. But what if graffiti could be used to do just the opposite – what if graffiti could help inspire kids to be drug- and alcohol-free?


That was the idea behind the graffiti art initiative at Kinloch Park Middle School, where South Florida-based youth drug prevention program DFYIT (Drug Free Youth in Town) teamed up with a local graffiti artist, school administrators and a group of middle school students who were eager to wreak havoc – er, make art – on school property.

The end result truly was a work of art – a massive graffiti art mural encompassing the entire back wall of the school’s cafeteria. Now when Kinloch Park students gather there for lunch hour, they can’t help but notice the colorful scene, which asks a simple question: “What is your natural high?”

Danny Lopez, the DFYIT staffer who conceived the idea for the art initiative, says the project was a great outlet for the students, who wanted to spread the message to their peers that being drug-free is not only fun – it’s cool, too. And, in addition to boosting their “street cred” at school, the students involved in the art initiative spent a whole weekend interacting with positive role models and making a lasting impression on their school community.

And it couldn’t come at a better time. Along with the continued problem of illicit drug use among local youth, South Florida is witnessing unprecedented increases in prescription drug abuse rates among children and teens. Add to that the strong correlation between youth substance abuse and violent activity (one national survey, for example, found that 94% of violent teens reported using alcohol, 85% reported using marijuana and 55% reported using several illegal drugs), and it becomes clear why drug-prevention outreach programs like the Kinloch Park initiative are so needed in our community right now.

The Kinloch Park graffiti art initiative is a great example of what young people can accomplish when they have the right tools. And it certainly makes lunchtime a lot more colorful!