GENTRY, AR — Addiction can take a lot from a person. For students at Gentry Middle School and Gentry High School, Ray Lozano delivered a message Thursday that went beyond the immediate risks of drugs and alcohol: Substance use can also rob young people of the potential they have yet to discover.

Lozano spoke with Gentry students about the risks associated with drugs, alcohol and nicotine, with particular attention to the growing popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping among young people. Drawing on his own experiences and the stories of people close to him, he challenged students to consider not only what substance use can cost them today, but also what it could take away from their futures.

When asked about the greatest risks these substances pose to teenagers, Lozano acknowledged addiction and serious health complications. But he also emphasized a consequence that can be overlooked: The loss of a young person's potential.

“You have so much potential, and you are only at the beginning of realizing what that potential is,” he told students. “You have so much that was given to you the minute you were born. You have talent, skills and abilities. Whatever amazing talent you have, don't let drugs and alcohol take that away from you.”

Lozano made that message personal by sharing the story of his sister, whom he described as someone born with a big heart, a natural kindness toward others and tremendous potential.

“She could have done anything with her life,” he said.

Instead, he explained, addiction has had a devastating impact on her life. When he returns to their hometown, he said, he can sometimes find her living in a cardboard box beneath a bridge.

Her story, he told students, is a reminder that addiction does not erase the potential a person once had. It can, however, make it much harder to realize that potential and build the life that might otherwise have been possible.

“There are kids like you and kids like her who are amazing and have tons of potential. Don't lose that potential,” Lozano said.

A timely message for Red Ribbon Week

Lozano's visit comes as schools and communities across the country prepare to observe Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23-31. The annual campaign encourages young people to make healthy, drug-free choices and gives families, educators and communities an opportunity to reinforce the importance of substance-use prevention.

For students, the message is especially relevant as nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and vapes, remain a concern for schools and families. Lozano encouraged students to look beyond the way these products may be marketed or perceived by their peers and to recognize the risks associated with substance use and addiction.

Lozano is a nationally recognized youth drug prevention speaker and the founder of Prevention Plus, an organization he established in 1990 to help young people make informed, healthier choices. With a background in stand-up comedy and decades of experience in prevention education, he combines research, personal stories and an engaging presentation style to connect with student audiences.

His message to Gentry students was ultimately about more than avoiding drugs and alcohol. It was about recognizing the value of their own lives, the abilities they already possess and the possibilities that lie ahead.

Every student has something to offer, Lozano reminded them. Protecting that potential begins with the choices they make today.