HELP FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO DEAL WITH SUBSTANCE USE

January is time of new starts and resolutions for the New Year. If
you are a young person struggling with substance use or a parent
concerned about your teen's substance use, Youth and Family Substance
Use Services (YFSUS) counsellors at The John Howard Society of the
North Island are available to help.

The YFSUS program will launch two new groups early in the New Year.
REACH is for youth who are either moving past a difficult
relationship with drugs or alcohol or are struggling with someone else's using.

"The REACH group is definitely a high point in my week," stated Karen
Robertson, one of the facilitators. "I love seeing young people feel
good about making healthy choices."

Three REACH groups will start in January. The groups are six weeks
long and meet once a week. They focus on building skills, strength,
and personal understanding.

"Most youth find it immensely comforting to know that they are not
alone in questioning the role of substances in their lives," said
Gary Hartford, who will co-facilitate REACH. "Many kids struggling
with problems related to using think that they are alone - it is very
comforting to learn they are not the only ones."

A second program for parents or caregivers who are concerned about a
youth's substance use will begin in the third week of January. The
group will be six weeks long and is intended to build awareness and
provide strategies for addressing youth substance use.

"Being confronted with a youth's substance use is very scary for most
parents," said Velma Mockett, who will co-facilitate the group with
Gary Hartford. "We hope to help caregivers and parents feel more
confident in their ability to address this concern. Increased
understanding and some practical strategies can go a long way."

Hartford said in his experience, youth and their parents or
caregivers often have common goals. Communication challenges and
other problems can make it hard to see that.

"We hope parents and caregivers will take advantage of this
opportunity to talk about teen substance use in a meaningful way."

The REACH groups and the group for parents are offered free of
charge. For more information or to register, please call 250-286-0611.