PROGRAM AIMS PREVENTION EFFORTS AT CHILDREN OF DRUG USERS

Southwest Florida Addiction Services hopes to stop the cycle of drug abuse
in families through a new pilot prevention program.

The Fort Myers agency plans to launch "Focus on Families," aimed at
deterring children whose parents use marijuana, cocaine or heroin from
abusing drugs themselves.

Focus on Families was first conducted at the University of Washington in
Seattle.

SWAFAS will replicate the program here with a focus on children ages 12 to
14, said Jennifer Braun, prevention counselor.

The program was nationally recognized by the National Institute on Drug
Abuse and the Office of National Drug Control Policy as being an effective
drug prevention program.

SWAFAS chose to pilot the program because a state youth substance abuse
survey found that drug use among Lee County students was a little over 18
percent - higher than the state's average of 15 percent.

The agency also is concerned about the link between substance abuse and
child abuse and neglect.

The pilot program, made possible through an $83,000 grant from the state,
will kick off when at least three families sign up for the group program,
Braun said.

"This program focuses on a clear population who we know is at high risk,"
said SWAFAS executive director Kevin Lewis. "It's wise to replicate a
program that works. We'd rather invest in a program that interrupts the
cycle of drug abuse rather than treat these children when they become adults."

Though the overall goal is to keep children off drugs, there is another
program benefit: improving the parent-child relationship.

Parents and children attend classes together over 16 weeks. They attend two
evening classes a week and receive one home visit from Braun who works to
reinforce what was learned in class.

"Many of these families don't know how to communicate," Braun said. "We
don't want them to accuse and have angry outbursts that don't accomplish
anything. We want them to understand why they are angry and talk it through
using problem-solving skills."

Class topics will include goal setting, relapse prevention, family
communication and management, creating family expectations about alcohol
and other drugs and helping children succeed in school.

There will be times when parents and children work separately. Parents will
be taught how to cope with problems without resorting to drug abuse. It
also helps give them the tools to better manage their families.

Children learn to talk about their problems, ask for what they need, learn
how to handle anger and deal with criticism without resorting to drugs.

Braun expects the program to be successful - incrementally.

"The changes will not happen overnight," she said.