Substance abuse prevention speaker set to tour schools across the Mat-Su Valley

WASILLA — Ray Lozano is coming to Alaska and will speak at various schools across the Mat-Su Valley about the effects drugs and alcohol has on the body. Rather than fear-mongering, Lozano aims to inform rather than scare each school he visits, because he believes that facts are the ticket.

“Information goes further than fear,” Lozano said.

He will cover all the substances from cigarettes to heroin, describing the facts and statistics of each one. He will answer common questions asked by like, “why do I get the munchies?” or “why do I get paranoid?”

“I just want kids to be the best they can possibly be and make healthy choices. There’s so much misinformation out there,” Lozano said. “I still run into kids who think weed is literally a cure for cancer — it’s just crazy.”

Lozano said a common misconception he feels urged to dispel is that vaping is safe and the oils that say they do not contain nicotine are outright lying. He said that explains how teens are getting addicted and damaging their lungs. He said that the chemicals within vaping oils have been FDA approved for ingesting — not inhaling — and can essentially cook portions of the lung by getting so hot. He calls that “popcorn lungs.”

“The damage is pretty much irreversible,” Lozano said.

Going from school to school, state to state, year-round is Lozano’s bread and butter. He started presenting when he was in high school and made speaking his main source of income as soon as he realized he could. He’s constantly on the road and speaking almost every day. He gave about 325 presentations last year.

“My mission is to make a difference in the lives of young people and teach them to do the same with others,” Lozano said.

Lozano is chock-full of history and statistics related to drugs. He said that cigarette companies started to put filters on cigarettes primarily to target women. He also noted that whenever a state legalized marijuana, car accidents and insurance rates for drivers aged 16 to 23 goes up.

“They smoke weed and have a tendency to stare at things a lot,” Lozano said.

Lozano attempts to keep his presentations interesting and funny and makes it a point to talk to students on their level. He doesn’t like to “talk down” to them and finds condensing presentations to be ineffective.

“I truly believe young people have amazing potential. With the right tools and direction, that potential can be realized and even soar,” Lozano said.

Ray Lozano will speak at:

Colony High School Tuesday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Chugiak High School Wednesday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Bartlett High School Thursday, April 12 at 6 p.m.