Using a grant awarded from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the West Bend School District Student Services Department is launching an innovative public service campaign to deter drug use among young people. It is called Drugs Make it Worse and it recognizes that preventing substance abuse includes building the inner strength and coping skills young people need to navigate life's inevitable challenges.

This effort is part of the West Bend School District’s broader commitment to comprehensive mental health support, recognizing that academic success and mental well-being are linked. At the heart of this new campaign is a powerful truth: When students have strong resilience and healthy coping strategies, they're far less likely to turn to drugs as an escape from problems or disappointments. 

We are happy to have partnered with EPIC, the nationally-recognized advertising firm based in West Bend, on this campaign. Through a new website, videos, posters, and skill-building brochures, students will have access to engaging educational materials that teach real-world coping strategies. 

The ultimate vision is a school community where mental health is strengthened and where students have the resilience to thrive despite life's challenges.

Please review the campaign features on the new website: drugsmakeitworse.com. In the next several months, the videos will be on social media and websites, and the brochures and posters will be made available.