Troubled Teens Resources

Troubled teenagers with serious drinking problems have had a surplus of publicity thanks to our celebrity besotted media. While the pundits tsk tsk and pretend great umbrage at the drunken antics of teen celebrities, it all seems rather insincere. If indeed these kids are crippled, then let them heal in private. But if they are what they appear to be; irresponsible. spiled rich teens, than there needs to be a great deal more condemnation.

Tsk tsks are not going to dissuade the teens at risk from pursuing their own version of self-destruction. But unlike the celebrity teens they might emulate, there will be no soft cushion of a pricey rehab and the adulation of fans. More than likely it is the beginning of many years of hell.

That’s why parents in communities across the country are waging the battle against teen age drug and alcohol abuse. Nearly every town in America can names a roster of teens dead from drunken car wrecks. What is more than irritating, is the, evidently, large number of parents who sanction their teens drinking or party with them. Gee, just like Lohan’s mom. Sometimes you wonder who needs treatment more - teens or their immature parents.

For those communities involved in organizing teen crisis intervention measures against teen alcohol abuse, RAND researchers developed a guide that can help communities in organizing their own efforts.

“To address this important problem, a team led by RAND researchers developed a guide to help communities plan, implement, and evaluate efforts to reduce and prevent underage drinking… The overarching framework for the guide is the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The SPF is a five-step approach broadly applicable to prevention efforts, including substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and violence.”

(Source)
H/T:Save Our Youth Taskforce