CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVT Pahrump young people discuss ideas for "Methodology" projects, including two 30-second commercials and a traveling art gallery. The program is part of a grant meant to fund programs that educate about methamphetamine use. From left to right, Janessa Wolfe, 14, A.J. Orosco, 17, Alana Wozney, 16, and Jill Smith, 9. Advertisement

Francine Winters, prevention specialist for WestCare, is well aware of the fact that after a certain point drug abuse campaigns targeted to youth are often perceived as lame.

But she and the other 10 youths (whose ages ranged from 12 to 17) who gathered at the WestCare office last Monday were determined to make sure Methodology, a grant-funded meth education campaign, would be anything but typical.

"We're not aware of how other groups are spending their money, but we're pretty sure no else is doing this," Winters said.

She was referring to the project's preliminary plans to include live theatrical performances that would go on tour throughout the county, a travelling art gallery that would go with them to Tonopah and Beatty, and two 30-second commercials aired on television.

Winters would like to see the various projects and performances climax in one big event where the shows, commercials, and artwork are all showcased on one night in one venue.

And all of the projects would be written, performed or created by Pahrump's youth, who Winters thinks can offer a creative and fresh approach to drug use education.

"We don't want this to be a joke," Winters told the group. "We don't just want some slogan that everyone thinks is lame."

That's because the project is about more than just working well-known facts about drug abuse into a different format.

Ultimately, Winters explained, "We need to change the way Pahrump looks at itself."

By the end of the first hour, this discussion had led to general ideas for the two television commercials and the skits.

The group discussed how and if it could incorporate humor into the weighty issue, and what would ultimately appeal to the 5,000 people the program hopes to target and educate.

"I have some ideas, but we don't have to use those," Winters told the group. "This is up to you guys. This needs to come from you, for you guys to write or perform in or whatever it is you want to do."