Drug education programs have come a long way since the “Just Say No” campaign of the 80’s. As a society we understand a lot more about mental health, substance abuse, and addiction. We have learned that none of these are simple issues and words like “denial,” “intervention,” and “self-medicating” have become part of our common language. We have realized that talking frankly about drugs, sex, and similarly difficult topics is key to preventing adolescents and teenagers from making poor decisions and compromising their wellbeing. While guiding young people through their formative years so that they do not develop an addiction does not guarantee they never will struggle with chemical dependency, it is more likely they will continue to live their life as healthy and happy adults.
