A recent post on my Facebook fan page said “I don’t think your presentation worked” made me think.  Of course, you can’t take everything someone says on your Facebook fan page to heart.  But there are times when you search your heart and it spurred me to write.

The goals of my seminar or presentations are simple.  First, I don’t think I have the power or intention to change people.  I believe teens are naturally good – my “default setting” if you will is “goodness” and health.  I think we live in a culture and perhaps a world that over values self-medicating and distraction, I feel the inner compass of people is to seek whole health.  Health that is free to control and regulate emotions and life challenges without the use of alcohol and other drugs.

I put students at the center of the classroom experience and allow students to define the agenda.  I encourage questions like – What do you want to pursue this week with me?  Do you want support of your decision to remain alcohol and drug free?  Do you want to learn strategies that can reduce the risk of drinking and/or using other drugs (knowing all drinking and drug use is risky and dangerous)  Do you want to learn where the line is between use, abuse, and dependence and determine where you may be?  Do you want to learn if you have a problem and what that means to you?  What do you need from me to make this relationship successful?  How can we work together most effectively?  Do you want to learn how to move towards a healthier life whether that includes alcohol or not?  Can I  help you find the help you need if you are afraid or concerned about yourself, friend, or family member.  And, how do we turn fear and confusion into hope and optimism.

I understand that defining “effective” is a personal and subjective experience that I have very little control over.  I believe “effective” is a process and not necessarily a measurable outcome.  The search is personal and involves cognitive as well as spiritual dimensions which do not always translate  into immediate behavioral change although it can.

I believe in creating a classroom environment that is fun, optimistic, and mutually respectful. I believe these conditions are necessary for people to consider change.  I accept students for who they are and not what I think they should be.  I focus more on strengths rather than weaknesses.  I feel teens are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole.  This is who I am.  This is what I believe.

This is where the battle lines are drawn. This argument is played out in the homes of each student, faculty member, administrator and board member, and in the decisions that determine drug education program development and selection.

• Is the host (FOX News Anchor) making a good point about kids going crazy and getting in trouble in college who are away from their parents for the first time? How does your school address seniors transitioning to college? Is your information accurate about drinking? Are you talking about developmental grief as a more significant predictor of substance use?
• Dr. Peele says 50% of 21 year olds binge drink. He goes on to say we are not preparing them appropriately. What does he mean by that? Is it necessary for teens to drink to learn what an appropriate and healthy relationship with alcohol is?
• Can we use Europe as a model? How does culture determine a person’s relationship with alcohol?
• Ms. Fay says the best protective factors we have against teen addiction is to show teens the harm associated with drinking and other drug use and for society to not tolerate it. Is that true?

Ms. Fay says showing teens the harms associated with drinking and other drug use is one of the best protective factors against future addiction – did you hear that? What!!! Think about where drug education has been since the 70′s. We started with scare tactic movies – Blood on the Highway, Drink, Drive, Die! Reefer Madness. Then in the 80′s the approach was information-based drug education. Overwhelm students with drug-related information (often bias and not peer-reviewed) and they will choose a drug-free lifestyle. Sure? Everyone knows reducing calories and exercise daily will help you loose weight. Those pounds must be falling off you, right?

Links:

Drug-Free America Foundation
Dr. Stanton Peele’s Website

You may be interested in this old podcast I produced three years ago. The show “Fixing What’s Wrong with Drug Education”