The Oro Valley Police Department, along with the Kyle Franks Foundation and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #53, host the annual Drug Awareness Day. The goal of the Drug Awareness Day is to educate our youth and their parents about drug awareness and prevention.

Prior to the event, all students who will be in attendance at the Drug Awareness Day write essays on staying drug free. The theme for the essay is “I Choose to Dream Drug Free”. Three top essays are chosen and students are awarded prizes. Our sincere hope is instead of just listening to someone tell them what a bad choice it is to get involved in drugs and alcohol, writing the essay will cause the students to really think about the negative effects drugs would have on their lives.

The students are bused to a local park where they have the opportunity to listen to a guest speaker. The speakers vary each year but each young person is carefully selected and have a story to tell of their own experience with the negative effects of drugs, be it losing someone they care about or their own issues.

The parents who attend the event have the opportunity to listen to the guest speaker for the students. Then they will have the opportunity to listen to a guest speaker that addresses issues focused on parent’s awareness and involvement.

After listening to the guest speaker, the students rotate through different displays and demonstrations by multiple local agencies and organizations who play a roll in the war on drugs. These include, Oro Valley Police Department, Marana Police Department, Pima County Sherriff’s Department, Tucson Police Department, Arizona DPS, Customs and Border Patrol, Pima Regional SWAT, Golder Ranch Fire District, Arizona Life Line, and the Kyle Franks Foundation.