A new program will help teenagers and parents to confront methamphetamine abuse and other problems with drugs in the Wood River Valley.
"I thought there was a need expressed by the community," said Janene Heldman, a Hailey-based therapist. She is also the founder and president of Counseling Works Services, a nonprofit organization that is actively campaigning against methamphetamine and other drug abuse through education and support groups.
"The goal is to create a social network of people who will have a similar attitude of refraining from drugs," Heldman said.
Counseling Works Services will hold a fund-raising event Friday, March 17, to benefit the Drugs and Our Youth: Drug Abuse Prevention Program. The event aims to raise awareness of drug use in the Wood River Valley and beyond.
"A lot of it is to expose people to the local issues," Heldman said.
The presence of methamphetamine, a highly addictive and destructive stimulant, is a significant issue. Heldman views the issue as a local and national epidemic.
"My experience with kids has been very informative. There is a problem," Heldman said.
The proceeds from the fund-raising event support Drugs and Our Youth educational classes that begin in late-March. The program aims to educate parents, teen and pre-teens of the risks associated with recreational drug use, as well as available rehabilitative and informational resources.
"We need to have these messages come from lots of different sources—and consistent messages," Heldman said.
A series of five free classes will be offered for parents and teens twice a week at the Community Campus in Hailey. The classes begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, and 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1. The five-class series continues Tuesdays and is repeated on Saturdays throughout the month. The program starts again in July and October. The series includes a two-hour class for Spanish speakers April 21 at Wood River High School in Hailey.
A team of professional counselors and educators employ interactive teaching techniques that cover topics like methamphetamine, heroine, cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs. The final classes offer information specific to parents and teenagers held in separate sessions. Throughout the classes parents are separated from teens to encourage participation.
Weekly support groups are available to parents and teens to support a drug-free social network. Personal mentoring will also be available to those requesting support.
Contact Heldman at 788-2081 for more information.
