Leading Edge Academy marked its 2026 Red Ribbon Week with a day of rotating speakers focused on drug prevention, treatment and the consequences of drug use, according to InMaricopa. Counselor Joseph Harvey organized the event around three themes: prosecution, deterrence and treatment.
Rather than bringing all students together for a single assembly, Harvey split the day into multiple classroom sessions. He said that format was intended to keep students more engaged than a traditional gym presentation.
K-8 students heard from a range of guests, including Pinal County Superior Court Judge Delia R. Neal, members of the Arizona Drug Task Force, Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller, Maricopa Fire/Medical Department personnel, corrections and probation officers, a dental student, and staff from Community Medical Services and Crossroads.
Some of the most memorable talks came from people in recovery who shared personal experiences with addiction. Joshua Johnson told students that drug use was tied to deeper pain in his life, and Harvey said he wanted students to understand both the risks and the reality of recovery. Students said the message showed how drug use can affect not only one person, but their families as well.
