Several of the 35,000 students who have attended our programs

Contrary to belief, adolescents are eager to talk about alcohol, other drug use, and personal health. As their social, cognitive and affective development matures and merges with a culture that all too often promotes health-damaging behaviors; the issue of substance use becomes more than a curiosity but a subject that is impacting their relationships. Determining whether to use substances or not is a contemporary developmental task for adolescents.

We believe in alcohol and other drug education that embodies the following elements for teens (1) evoke students’ genuine voices, (2) listens deeply, (3) will hold space for and respect their views, and, (4) broadens perspective, increases awareness, and creates new distinctions which empowers new personal choices and options.  Drug education programs are meant to deepen and connect the conversation between the conscious and unconscious life of teen’s relationship to alcohol, drugs, and mental health.

Our approach utilizes a multi-modal approach including lecture, personal narratives, discussion, exercises, role-play, and media to conceptualize a humanistic approach to personal health and to honor the non-linear learning characteristics of today’s teens.  Every teen we speak to wants great things for themselves and their lives, it just they don’t think it is possible.  We create conversations where possibility happens.  We draw from both developmental and learning theories to shape our approach.  We call this process “Psychoedutainment”.  We see value in the process of exploring thoughts and feelings around the role substances play in the lives of students, and deep reflection on those roles in a nonjudgmental and supportive space.

 Traditional Drug Education

“Content, Context, Connection

Alternative  (Our Approach)

“Context, Connection, Content”

The results of our work is co-created with students.  We believe intimidation, half-truths, and scare tactics are poor choices to build a foundation of trust.  We create educational experiences that are meaningful, practical, and empower students to seek the highest level of personal health.

Teens face many challenges today regarding choices about their health.  We live in a culture where the messages of moderation and value-based decisions are drown out by messages of excess, distraction, and consumerism.  In response to these challenges, our seminars utilize research-based best practices and theory-driven instructional methodology.

Our approach is often described by students as a four day conversation.  Many students have commented that they never felt they were being taught, but rather had a personal coach in a process of discovering what was personal and meaningful to them.