Beebe, Cape district continue substance abuse program April 30

In collaboration with Soundcheck Prevention Network, Beebe Healthcare and the Cape Henlopen School District are encouraging local families to participate in an educational program set for 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 30, at Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes. The program focuses on adolescent substance use and the reasons why ongoing, constructive conversations with young people are so critically important. 

Parents will learn about the latest substance use trends and statistics, and how substance misuse impacts a child’s physical and mental health as well as brain development. “In healthcare, we often encounter the consequences of substance use when it has already caused significant physical or psychological harm,” said Bill Chasanov, DO, chief health systems design officer at Beebe Healthcare. “It's crucial to understand the impact of substance use on a young person's development and to foster informed, honest conversations about the choices we make. This collaboration underscores Beebe Healthcare's commitment to proactive education and intervention, ensuring a healthier future for our community's youth.”

The presentation will prioritize giving parents valuable tools for identifying signs of substance misuse and engaging their kids in meaningful conversation about the associated dangers and risks. Information will be presented by leaders from Soundcheck Prevention Network, a nationally known substance misuse prevention organization that develops customized, student-centered programming, with strategies to promote healthy lifestyle choices and reduce harm.

“Our April program will be a continuation of the events we held in February, when we first introduced this program,” said Kristin DeGregory, Cape Henlopen High School principal. “We know firsthand that discussions about substance use, prevention and harm reduction need to be ongoing. I am so proud of our partnership with Soundcheck and Beebe, and the support we have received through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which make this program possible. It allows us to provide valuable resources for both students and parents, and emphasizes how we can all work together to have real impact on our students and our community.”

Students are encouraged to attend the evening event with their parents, as one of the key presentation themes will be how to have conversations about substance use as a family. During the same week, students will participate in a series of events over three days during regular school hours. These activities will encourage open dialogue and transparency about substance use and its impact, and provide reasons to refrain from drug and alcohol use. These meetings are intentionally taking place in the spring, just ahead of prom, graduation and other celebratory events that happen toward the end of the school year.

“Our goal is to give students information that can guide decision making and ultimately aims to keep them safe,” said Will Straughan, founder and CEO of Soundcheck Prevention Network. “We approach it from a health perspective. Our program is about meeting people where they are, and empowering kids and their parents to handle real-life situations during the high school years.”

Students who have demonstrated willingness to get involved, lend their voice and advocate for the message have become part of a Health and Wellness Committee at Cape Henlopen High School, and have been engaged in the content planning process, based on reality.

“We know that high school students can be influenced by their peers in different ways,” said Straughan. “There is a lot of opportunity as we meet students who have a strong voice, and who can model ideal behaviors and intervene as a friend who cares when their peers are in trouble. These students have the potential to serve as real champions for our message and the action items that will result during our April events.”

RSVPs are not required for this event, and it is open to all community members. Those who plan to attend can pre-submit a question they would like to have answered, by going to forms.gle/295qc6hxUY2mBKWk8.

Attendees will also have the option to write down and submit questions they would like to have addressed during the event.