Freedom From Chemical Dependency Addresses Sophomores
Dear CA Sophomore Parents:
As part of our mental health and wellness education program and ongoing commitment to prevention and wellness, we invited Prevention Specialists from FCD Educational Services to speak to our sophomore class on October 25th. FCD is a non-profit organization that provides substance abuse prevention education for schools. Since 1976, they have taught over a million students of all ages. Their mission is to:
- Encourage and support the non-use of alcohol and other illegal or illicit drugs during the growing years.
- Empower young people to make healthy, responsible choices regarding alcohol and other drug use
- Teach students and adults how to recognize the early warning signs of substance abuse and to intervene appropriately
- Educate students, parents, teachers, and administrators on the physiological and psychological effects of alcohol and other drugs
- Promote awareness of drug addiction, including alcoholism, as a progressive, chronic, and often fatal disease
- Provide educational communities with the guidance and training necessary to implement comprehensive, effective approaches to substance abuse prevention
FCD Prevention Specialists are highly trained professionals who have achieved long-term recovery from alcohol or other drug addictions. This unique perspective enhances the credibility of their message and provides students with role models for happy, healthy, drug-free living. The FCD Prevention Specialist will present a parent workshop to offer support and guidance in helping your children enjoy a drug-free adolescence. Some of the topics to be addressed include:
- Effective ways to communicate with your child about drugs and drug use
- Up-to-date facts about current drug use and trends
- What to say about your own experiences with alcohol and/or drug experimentation
- How to spot early warning signs of trouble and effective ways to respond.
This program presents a perfect opportunity for discussing alcohol and other drug-related issues with your children. Parental involvement is crucial to our efforts to reduce the risks children face. We want our students to hear from both school and home about substance abuse prevention education, and that we are committed to keeping our children safe. The Upper School parent meeting will be co-presented by Circle of Concern. If you would like to know more about FCD, you can visit their website at www.fcd.org.
We will also be administering an anonymous survey from FCD to the sophomore class this week in advisory. The results of the survey will help us gain a better understanding of the students’ perceptions, attitudes and behavior related to alcohol and other substance use, prior to the FCD presentation this week.
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