Cody C.A.N. is a unique, highly effective anti-drug initiative developed in
Cody, WY. It is founded on the core belief that most people are inherently good
and want to make good choices. We believe that many people turn to drugs
and make other bad choices because they want recognition and acknowledgement… and it seems the only way of getting any attention is to make bad choices!
C.A.N. exists to make sure students are recognized and rewarded for making
good choices. Simply by signing a pledge to be drug-free, Cody students
become members of our program and are given free access to a wide range of
benefits. We organize social events, provide technology access, arrange
for community discounts, fund scholarships and sponsorships, and arrange for
unique classroom activities that remind C.A.N. members of the importance of
their positive decisions.
A group of high school students manages the C.A.N. program. This is
important because nobody understands the challenges and pressures of being a
student better than other students. C.A.N. is not just another “good idea”
being imposed by well-meaning adults; C.A.N. is a powerful demonstration of the
effectiveness of positive peer pressure. The high-school CAN Board is
responsible for planning and organizing events, managing the budget, and
directing the overall growth of the program. A handful of adults are also
essential to the program. They provide a social and political link to the
community and the school administration, technical expertise to implement the
C.A.N. Board’s ideas, and continuity over time as new students take over the
Board each year.