Addressing Substance Abuse

Addressing Substance Abuse A.E.D. program targets adolescents to nip problems in the bud

‘It’s not preachy; it’s about meeting the kids where they are at.’ — Shawn Hayden, A.E.D. director Andrew Mansfield Reporter GARDNER Substance abuse is a problem that can affect all ages, but teenagers who are affected deal with it differently than adults. Taking this into account, the addiction-focused Assist Educate Defeat Foundation has started a new peer support program, Making Change, aimed at young people ages 14 through 21. The format of the program originated in New Hampshire and has spread throughout New England, but A.E.D. will be the first organization offering it in Mass­achusetts. “One of the greatest indicators (of substance abuse) is first use. We need to do something earlier and there are just not many options out there. It’s a pretty important gap that’s not filled right now; we’re trying to fill that gap,” said A.E.D. Director Shawn Hay­den. The way Making Change works is by having trained adult facilitators lead teens through a dialogue about their drug use habits to show them the benefits of changing their behavior. The program is general in scope, being open to users of alcohol or any other drug. Every week, the group meets and the facilitators follow a different script around themes surrounding substance abuse. While there are many support groups that adults frequent, groups specifically tailored to minors and young adults are less common. Unlike adults, teenagers face separate concerns, like how drug use affects their social standing at school and relationship with their parents. Also, the prefrontal cortex of a teenager’s brain is not fully developed, which may make it easier for them to have lapses in sound judgment. “This is about getting people around their peers. It’s not preachy; it’s about meeting the kids where they are at. It’s starting a dialogue and not telling them what they should do,” said Mr. Hayden. He said A.E.D. has reached out to local school systems and juvenile probation courts to make them aware of the new program. The hope is that connecting with the community will lead to the program being an alternative to harsh punishments that adolescents would otherwise face for being caught using substances. The format that Making Change follows was started about a decade ago by Second Growth in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, a nonprofit organization that focuses on reducing substance abuse and violence for adolescents. Second Growth ran a study on the program that showed positive results and since then, some agencies in Vermont and Maine have adopted the model as well. While A.E.D. has just completed the first week of its six-week pilot program for Making Change, Mr. Hayden said the program is “open-ended,” as they plan on continuing it after the initial period. He said they probably have the capacity to take 40 people into the program. The formation of the support group comes at a time of increased public focus on the issue of substance abuse, in particular regarding opioids. Mr. Hayden said it “doesn’t feel like things are slowing down at all” when it comes to substance abuse in the region, but he hopes that by reaching adolescents before they damage their lives to a more significant extent it will set them on a path of sustainable recovery. Mr. Hayden is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor who serves as the chief operating officer for GAAMHA, a social service agency that provides help for people with disabilities and people struggling with substance abuse. A.E.D. is run by volunteers and uses GAAMHA’s location at 208 Coleman St. to host Making Change. The program is free and confidential, and does not require any registration. The group meets Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m. A.E.D. can be reached at 978-364-0920 and the email for the group is makingchange@aedfoundation.org. Professionals such as therapists, guidance counselors, teachers, probation officers or coaches can also contact A.E.D. to refer a young person to the group.