Matt Bellace (right) brought students and teachers on stage to help make his points..
Photo credit: Anthony Buzzeo

Wilton High School freshmen and sophomores were given a different perspective Tuesday on how to get high … a natural, healthful way instead of with drugs or alcohol. Matt Bellace, a psychologist who also does standup comedy, said he’s never been under the influence, and he told the students they don’t have to either.

“I am not going to tell you how to live your life, but you do have choices,” said Bellace, who has appeared on  truTV's "The Smoking Gun Presents."

The choices, Bellace said, are “bad pain” vs. “good pain.”  Bad pain comes from making dumb decisions while under the influence or, as he put it, “anything on the 'Jersey Shore.' ”  Good pain, he said, is losing friends or not being invited to parties because you won’t get drunk, but knowing you are doing the right thing.

Bellace, who holds a doctorate in neuropsychology, said he knows from experience that it isn’t easy to go through high school and college without drinking and doing drugs.  So he gave tips on choosing good pain over bad pain. One was to achieve natural highs. Students usually get high to be relaxed or happy, he said, but a natural high does the same thing. The brain releases chemicals that make people feel the same way when they are doing things that make them happy or when they feel emotions such as love. He used his feelings toward his 11-month-old son as an example.

At the end of the program many students thanked Bellace for sharing his experiences and advice. His appearance was part of the anti-drug Red Ribbon  Campaign, which Wilton Youth is sponsoring this week.