The Cornerstone Program believes that when it comes to substance abuse, prevention programs are just as important as treatment for substance use disorders. We work regularly in the Denver schools and community to facilitate prevention of drug and alcohol use among youth. We provide substance abuse counselor speaking engagements for middle and high schools, colleges, and churches. Additionally, our substance abuse counselors can provide training for school administrators, counselors, police officers, drug-free coalitions, and other groups dedicated to empowering young people to remain drug free.
If you are interested in booking our substance abuse counselors for a speaking engagement in the greater Denver area, contact our drug rehab center today or call us at (303) 690-0082 to learn more.
Learn more about speaking engagements for teenagers
Learn more about speaking engagements for parents, teachers, or other adults
We Meet Teenagers Where They Are
High school students are constantly dealing with risk factors for substance abuse. They are bombarded with peer pressure, social media, and pro-drug pop culture influences daily, and their level of self-esteem and insecurity fluctuates hour to hour. The Cornerstone Program’s specialty is working with teenagers and young adults with drug problems. One of the critical aspects of communicating with young people is to meet them where they are, rather than to expect them to think, act, and feel the way a 40-year-old would. All our presentations take into account the common traits of teenagers:
- Because their brains are still developing, they have trouble projecting into the future and foreseeing the consequences of their actions. This is why “scare tactics” fall on deaf ears with teenagers.
- They are fun loving and driven by a hunger for peer acceptance. This is why they seem to disregard what adults tell them in favor of what their friends are doing.
- By default, they are going through a time of great personal insecurity. Every day they are working hard to figure out who they are, and where they fit in the world.
- They ALL feel the effects of peer pressure and have a desire to be cool.
Students and young people are used to anti-drug presentations, yet we continue to see drug and alcohol use in schools. Perhaps this is partially because traditional anti-drug presentations, designed to be logical to adults, are often regarded as misleading and irrelevant by teenagers. Our substance abuse prevention talks cover many topics ranging from the effects of drugs to emotional coping skills to social media, and more!
Our Substance Abuse Counselors’ Unique Approach
Our substance abuse counselors are experts at relating and speaking to teens and adolescents on a level they can relate to. This makes for talks that are not only educational but engaging in a way that helps listeners take the material to heart. We operate with the understanding that teenagers are intelligent young men and women who desire for adults to be honest with them. Our counselors walk their talk, treat teenagers as equals, and never judge the teenagers they work with.
Our substance abuse counselors engage listeners with humorous and honest explanations of real-world consequences that young adults can relate to. In addition to simply promoting drug and alcohol awareness, our substance abuse counselors teach young adults actionable strategies for dealing with drug or alcohol abuse and responding to negative peer pressure. This helps teens and adolescents who may already be struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues discover better coping skills before their behaviors result in serious substance use disorders.
We strongly believe in the power of prevention, and we are proud of our method for getting children and teens enthusiastic about sobriety by helping them understand risks and dangers on their own terms.
Speaking Engagements for Parents, Teachers, & Adults
The other half of the prevention coin is parents, teachers, and community leaders. For prevention to be effective, it is important that the key adults in a teen’s life understand the nuances of teen drug prevention. As drug and alcohol counselors who work with teens, our staff is always up to the minute on the trends in the drug world, and we hear what the teenagers are saying on a daily basis. Our presentations will also help shed light on some of the most common sources of confusion that adults have surrounding teen drug use.
To meet these needs, our substance abuse counselors offer support groups for parents and speaking engagements for adults. A parent or teacher who can accurately identify the signs of drug or alcohol abuse can make all the difference between a child who gets the help they need to recover, and one who falls deeper into the cycle of drug abuse. Our approach to adult presentations is similar to the approach with young people. With a mix of humor, education, and an honest representation of real-world consequences, we are able to give talks that are as informative as they are engaging.
Schedule a Talk from a Substance Abuse Counselor in Denver, CO
Treatment for addiction is important for young adults struggling with drug or alcohol problems, but prevention keeps them from having to seek help in the first place. If you are interested in having one of our substance abuse counselors come to educate your classroom, community group, faculty, staff, or more, contact our Denver drug rehab center today or call us at (303) 690-0082.