MADISON – A community organization is recruiting teenagers who exemplify positive personalities.

The advisory committee for Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders meets at the Partnership for a Drug-Free Community office. (CONTRIBUTED)

The Partnership for a Drug-Free Community is recruiting students in grades 10-12 and college for its new program, Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders. The partnership serves as the drug prevention agency for Huntsville, Madison, Madison County and North Alabama.

The agency is “looking for students who have a positive attitude, average or better grades, a good attendance record at school, school pride and a desire to make a difference in the community,” volunteer and board member Wendy Reeves said.

Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders will influence young people and adults to better understand the impact and dangers of prescription pills. “Prescription pill abuse is the fastest growing drug epidemic in the nation and is destroying young and old alike,” partnership executive director Deborah Soule said.

Drugs are now the number one accidental killer in the United States with the vast majority of deaths caused by prescription medications.

Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders will involve 30 students maximum. The students will receive training by community leaders, law enforcement officers, media, politicians, public health officials and educators to effectively address the dangers of prescription pill abuse. They will meet with audiences at local gatherings, churches and civic groups.

The selected participants will meet on Sept. 21 and 28 and Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Huntsville Public Safety Training Academy, 3011 Sparkman Drive between Blue Spring Road and Pulaski Pike. Lunch will be served at no cost to the students.

Agency volunteers encourage interested students to apply. Parents who want their teenager to participate or teachers who know a student who is a good ambassador can contact the agency, Reeves said.

Deadline for applications and nominations is Sept. 18. Email applications to partner@hiwaay.net, or mail to Partnership for a Drug-Free Community, P.O. Box 2603, Huntsville AL 35804.

For more information and applications, call 256-539-7339 or visit partnershipforadrug-freecommunity.org/tytl.