Prevention Is Primary

Program Description

Prevention Is Primary (PIP) is a community and school-based alcohol and other drug prevention program.  The overall mission is to be responsive to the needs of youth, parents, teachers, and the community by providing alcohol and other drug education through the use of the current, accurate and effective models.  This is done through the implementation of three components.

            FOR YOUTH:

Classroom lessons for Kindergarten-8^th grade youth in a 6-9 week program.  The topics of  communication, advertising, self-awareness, alternatives, self image, drug information, decision-making, problem solving, peer pressure, and resistance techniques are covered.  Students gain an understanding of how each topic relates to decisions surrounding the use of alcohol and other drugs.

Follow Through program for high risk youth in grades 4-8: Students self-identify or are identified by our Prevention Educators and/or school personnel as needed to learn information about alcoholism.  The children attend a 4 week group to learn specific information concerning the effects of alcoholism on families, identifying coping strategies, and developing trusting relationships.

            FOR EDUCATORS:

            Classroom modeled lessons demonstrate the PIP substance abuse prevention curricula.

In-service training provides information and materials for teachers to continue prevention efforts with the children during the current school year and into the future.

FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES:

Parent Informational workshop introduces parents to prevention concepts and terminology.  Parents can use the strategies gained at the workshop to promote making healthy choices at home.

Family Nights provide time for parents and their children to work together on activities that reinforce the prevention education lessons taught in the classroom.  Participating in the activity encourages positive communication and fosters bonding among family members.

Since its conception in 1981, Prevention Is Primary has provided drug education services for over 175 elementary schools, encompassing 18 school districts throughout Erie County.  PIP has established a proven track record in providing drug education services and in enabling educators to implement alcohol and other drug abuse prevention programs within their own schools.

Prevention Is Primary is unique in its approach to drug abuse prevention through its three components, its combined approach of effective, cognitive and social skills education, and modeled classroom demonstrations.  Our Prevention Educators have extensive experience in the areas of education and human and youth services, and are dynamic facilitators.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

·                    To forestall use and possible harmful involvement with alcohol and other drugs among

              youth and affect a long-term reduction in their use and possible harmful involvement with

              alcohol and other drugs.

·                    To provide school systems with techniques and tools to enable teachers to continue drug

             prevention activities after Prevention Is Primary has completed its program.

·                    To impart to parents awareness and understanding of alcohol and other drug abuse problems

             and issues among young people and the motivating and precipitating factors which lead

             young people to become involved with alcohol and other drugs.

·                     To give priority and special attention to those schools and school districts with populations at

             high risk of developing disabilities as a result of drug-taking behavior.

·                     To increase community awareness and understanding of the unique facets of the program to

             maximize existing community services and avoid duplication of services.