Drug Abuse Prevention Program

Transcription

1 Drug Abuse Prevention Program Leaders in Drug Abuse Prevention A California Nonprofit Corporation

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 3 About: Narconon Drug Abuse Prevention Presentations 4 Presentation Format 5 Evidence Based Drug Abuse Prevention 6 High School Student Comments 7 Middle School Student Comments 8 Elementary School Student Comments 9 Teacher Comments 10 Letters of Recommendation 11 Public Recognition 12 Program History 13 Contact Page NARCONON Fresh Start. All rights reserved. NARCONON and the NARCONON logo are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.

3 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO DRUG EXPERIMENTATION AND ABUSE For more than four decades the Narconon drug rehabilitation program has been successfully helping people around the world end their drug addiction. But with thousands of people, most of them under 18, using illegal drugs for the first time every day, we also recognize that rehabilitation alone will not solve the drug problem. For more than 40 years the Narconon program has been providing effective drug prevention and education to hundreds of thousands of students and young people with live presentations delivered by professional speakers. The Narconon program is EVIDENCE BASED and gets RESULTS! Narconon presenters are known worldwide as the people who know how to talk to kids about drugs.

4 NARCONON DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PRESENTATIONS EVIDENCE BASED: The Narconon drug abuse prevention program is evidence based. With 40 years experience preventing drug abuse, our results have been documented by numerous reviews and studies. RAISES AWARENESS: The Narconon drug prevention program has been proven to be highly effective in raising young people s perception of consequences and risks regarding drugs. We have hundreds of thousands of student evaluations demonstrating this change, including many statements that they will no longer use drugs now that they understand the real effects and dangers. FACTUAL: No scare tactics. No glorification of drug use. Presenters give a realistic view of drug abuse with key information on drugs and their actual effects physical and psychological. INTERACTIVE AND ENGAGING: Our Interactive presentations are factual, down to earth and fun. Students feel engaged and that their opinion matters. Questions are encouraged and students are given the opportunity to relate the information to their lives. We don t just tell them to say no when educated, they come to that decision on their own. AGE APPROPRIATE: Narconon drug prevention presentations are specifically geared to each age level of those participating. See page 5 for more information. PROFESSIONAL SPEAKERS: Narconon educators are highly trained professionals who keep the attention of students of all ages and deliver an effective message. VENUE AND GROUP SIZE: Presentations are done in a classroom, library, theater or auditorium. It is very important that students are able to clearly hear and see the presenter without distractions. Group size is also important and depends on age level and venue. Our scheduling director will work with you to set things up for best possible results. PRESENTATION LENGTH: Depends on the bell schedule, venue, grade level and needs of the students. A minimum of 45 minutes is required for any presentation. SUPPLEMENTAL: Presentations are intended to supplement a school s drug education program. The subject of drugs spans a wide variety of topics. Based on school needs and time availability, topics can be combined as a series or offered individually as a supplement to existing drug education curricula.

5 PRESENTATION FORMAT All Presentations Are Age Appropriate Part I: Introduction of the presenter, the purpose and goals of the presentation, the drug problem and why drug education is important to making healthy choices. Part II: We have found over the years that most young people don t know what drugs really are. Part II is an interactive discussion beginning with the definition of the word drug including examples. Part III: Many topics are available for discussion but not all of them can be covered in one presentation. Student needs vary from school to school and grade level to grade level. The topics discussed will be based on information provided by the school, the speaker s assessment of the audience and available time. The following are the topics which could be covered as Part III of the program: DRUGS AND THE BODY (all ages) Most drugs leave something behind. Drug residues accumulate in the body and even occasional use can have long term effects. We discuss these effects, the risks involved and the difficulties of removing drug residues. HOW DRUGS AFFECT THE MIND (all ages) Using drugs can cause major changes in the way a person thinks, feels and acts. We discuss these changes and how drug abuse can reduce the user s abilities and potentials for success and happiness. DRUGS AND EMOTIONS (5th grade and up) Drug use affects the emotions, both when one is under the influence of drugs and as the drugs wear off. We discuss the process that eventually leads to diminished potential and blunted mental capacity. ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS IN LIFE (all ages) What are goals and why is it important to set them? How can we remain enthusiastic despite obstacles to achieving our goals in life? Stress is unavoidable but does not result in drug abuse when children are given these tools. TOBACCO, SMOKING AND YOUR HEALTH (all ages) Tobacco addiction kills more people than all other drugs combined. So why is tobacco still so widely used? In this module we cover the physical damages of smoking and why so many young people become addicted. ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLISM (all ages) What is alcohol and why is it one of the biggest killers of all drugs? We discuss the reasons why so many abuse alcohol and how a young person can avoid falling into the trap of alcoholism. THE TRUTH ABOUT MARIJUANA (5th grade and up) Marijuana is touted as being safe, or at least safer than most other recreational drugs. In this very important module, we discuss the many consequences of smoking weed: lethargy, physical toxicity, loss of motivation and judgment, and cancer risk. OTHER DRUGS OF ABUSE (high school and up) Each of the following topics can be addressed briefly or in great detail: Ecstasy (MDMA), Crystal Meth, Hallucinogens (LSD, shrooms, etc.), prescription drugs (pain killers, anti-anxiety drugs, etc.), heroin, cocaine, crack, designer drugs (spice, bath salts, salvia, etc.)

6 EVIDENCE-BASED DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION Program Evaluation and Results By continually monitoring trends in youth substance abuse, the Narconon Drug Education program keeps pace with changing community needs. Presentations are real and reflect what kids are actually doing. The Narconon program surveys every presentation to generate data on changes in perception of risk, program efficacy and for quality control. Schools are required to use strategies that provide evidence of prevention or reduction in drug use. The Narconon drug prevention program consistently obtains these results. A recent outcome study of our program demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing drug use amongst high school students. Click on the following links to view the study on line: Narconon drug education study or

7 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COMMENTS More student comments... Student Evaluation Form I've always known they (drugs) were bad, but still did them every once in a while. But hearing about what my future could turn out like makes me not want to smoke weed ever again. (I can use what I learned by) when offered don't give in. Knowledge overpowers. This helped me realize how important it is to have zero tolerance with any substance that can change us... In a way it has helped me think about who I'm hanging out with. I believe Tony and Jesse should visit every school to share their stories and their message. I was always curious about trying drugs and after hearing all of what he had to say, I don't feel that urge any more. I thought that if I did smoke then I would feel popular... I will not let anyone persuade me or talk me into doing something cause my only answer will be no. I have never used drugs but I have recently been thinking about it but after this talk I really don't want to. My thoughts about drugs changed because in exactly one week I was going to smoke for the first time ever, but after listening to this I said I am not doing any drugs nor smoking.

8 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT COMMENTS More student comments... Student Evaluation Form I have received this talk 3 times (since 5th grade) and I think it s a very awesome one. The Narconon speaker convinced me that drugs are the worst thing you can do from the very first time he talked to me and as a result I really never plan on doing them because of what I learned. I live in an area where lots of people smoke weed. There's even a medical marijuana place a few blocks from my school. I thought I was expected to do drugs especially weed because it was safer but now I know to say HELL NO! " I thought that the Narconon talk was very inspirational and was extremely packed with valuable information... I'll keep it forever in the back of my head whenever I'm offered drugs. The presenter made the talk interesting. It actually motivates you to NOT take drugs somehow...this gives me more reason not to take drugs... I could use this throughout my life and maybe even help my family and other people. "A few days from now I m going to a party and I know someone was going to ask me to take drugs. I was going to take it because I thought it was cool. But not no more.

9 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT COMMENTS More student comments... 5th grader: I thought the Narconon talk was interesting and awesome because this little boy AIN'T TAKING DRUGS! Student Evaluation Form 5th grader: I thought the Narconon talk was one of the most helpful advice I ever had because I know what is going to happen if I do drugs. I can use one word to change my life from being a disaster. 3rd Grader: The Narconon talk helped me big time because I was going to smoke because I did not think it was bad. 6th grader: I loved the Narconon presentation. It was better than last year's. It really made me think about that my life can be awesome if I don't take drugs. I can help predict my future to make it better. To help my friends and family if they're in this situation. Thank you! 4th Grader: When I heard Tony (from Narconon) the first time (3rd grade) something just clicked on me. That's why I will never do drugs. 6th grader: I thought to myself "Just cause people think it s cool to smoke weed, why should I?" and I decided that I wasn t going to do drugs. It was a good talk, I hope the speaker comes again.

10 TEACHER COMMENTS More comments I have had the good pleasure of having your fine organization deliver talks to my health classes for 42 years (since 1970). To this day, Narconon provides the best quality drug education program out there for community presentations. All my students ask, When can we get Narconon to come back? A great compliment coming from young and discriminating minds. J.M. (High School) What an amazing experience this was for all of our 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. The energy with which the speakers delivered the presentations to each class was outstanding. The speakers tailored every presentation to the grade level they were presenting to and the students soaked up the information. Every student was engaged at all times. A.C. (Middle School) I am sure you hear these words everyday, but THANK YOU so much! We appreciate the effort that went into the presentations for the students. The presenters were remarkable and very knowledgeable. Each session was geared to the appropriate age/grade level. Our students were attentive and enjoyed the assemblies very much. The Narconon program is awesome and we are happy the drug education portion can be shared with elementary school students. J.M. (Elementary School)

11 LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

12 PUBLIC RECOGNITION

13 PROGRAM HISTORY The Narconon Drug Rehabilitation and Prevention program is a secular (non-religious) program. Narconon Fresh Start is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation in the State of California, dedicated to eliminating drug abuse and drug addiction through drug abuse prevention and education services for California youth and adults. Narconon Fresh Start is licensed by Narconon International. The first Narconon program was founded in 1966 by Mr. William Benitez who, at the time, was incarcerated in the Arizona State Prison for a long series of drug-related offences. After 18 years of addiction and endless attempts at recovery, Mr. Benitez came by a book written by American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. By applying the principles it contained on increasing one's abilities, he and dozens of other inmates were able to permanently end their addiction to heroin. In 1971, after he was given an early release from prison, Mr. Benitez established Narconon Los Angeles the first Narconon drug rehabilitation program for the general public. For the complete history of the Narconon program, please visit our website. NARCONON is a word coined by Mr. Benitez, to mean "narcoticsnone." From its founding it has been a drug-free program geared to help produce drug-free lives. Mr. William Benitez Founder of Narconon Today, there are more than 100 Narconon centers and groups in 45 countries around the world with Narconon staff educating hundreds of thousands of people and rehabilitating thousands of addicts.

14 CONTACT DIRECTORY Tony Bylsma Director of Drug Education, CCDC, RAS Our lead drug prevention specialist, Tony Bylsma, has since 1981 educated more than 400,000 students, parents and teachers on the dangers of drugs and has trained other Narconon speakers. Mr. Bylsma is a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor (CCDC), a Registered Addiction Specialist (RAS) and a trained Narconon drug rehabilitation counselor with years of experience in rehabilitating drug addicts. Jesse Crosby Drug Abuse Prevention Specialist A trained paramedic, Jesse, has witnessed the destruction of drug abuse professionally and in his personal life. He is very passionate in helping young people avoid the traps of drugs and alcohol, and he has real talent in engaging young people from elementary through high school. Laci Warczak Scheduling Director laci@drugrehab.com With four years experience helping drug users end their drug addiction, Laci s new purpose is to make sure kids know the truth about drugs before they get caught in the trap of drug abuse. She is here to help you and your school get the best possible Narconon drug education experience. NARCONON FRESH START 225 W. Broadway, Suite 420 Glendale, CA