Teen Power Conference Tackles Underage Substance Abuse

 (DMYFS) teamed up with Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council (MCSAAC), East Haddam Youth and Family Services and MADD (Mothers Against Destructive Decisions) to hold a conference called "Teen Power" on August 10-11. The conference’s goal was to empower teens to address prevention of underage drinking and substance use among their peers.

The middle school and high school teams came together with a common goal – a desire to make a difference for underage substance use in their school and community.  Conference activities included guest speakers John Boiano of Pulse Intergration as well as Lauren Iannucci from MADD, Jane Moen of DMYFS and Lisa Mason of  MCSAAC.  The teams learned about local substance abuse as well powerful lessons on leadership and the importance of community asset building to prepare them to create their own action plan by the conference’s end.

A group of 4 high school and college students experienced in substance abuse prevention activities served as mentors for the program and lead all facets of the program.  These mentors were Parker Dumont, CRHS grad and freshman at Southern Connecticut State College; Janna Moen, Valley Regional HS Grad and sophomore at St. Anselm College; Ben Plant, CRHS Senior; and Colin Plant, CRHS Senior.  These mentors were pivotal to the program’s success as they reached out to the younger students as role models and peers.

All participants worked in teams to create a Substance Abuse Project Action Plan to be implemented this fall in their school.   The Durham Middlefield Team consisted of Erin Blecha from Durham, Katie Pareti of Middlefield, and Megan St. Amand of Rockfall.  The team’s project plan is an ambitious one.  Their goal: to address the fact that teens in our community have access to alcohol.  Their plan:  implement a “Sticker Attack” project with local liquor stores.  Through “Sticker Attack”, the DMYFS Team plans to pair up with the CRHS EDGE (Educated Decisions Guiding Everyday) Club to create a series of colorful and informative stickers that will catch the attention of adults in the community.  With facts related to underage drinking laws as well as information about the dangers of underage drinking; they hope to blanket beer and malt beverage six packs at the six local liquor stores with the stickers.  In the end their goal is to impact the adults who may directly or indirectly provide liquor to minors.

Jane Moen, Program Director at DMYFS will work with the team along with the CRHS EDGE Club to assist the teens to implement their “Sticker Attack” community project during the 2011 – 2012 school year.  The Durham Middlefield Local Wellness Council generously provided a scholarship for a team of students nominated for this program.