Council on Addiction Prevention & Education (Cape) Extends Access to Free Teen Program Ahead of National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week

Ahead of National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week, March 21-27, the Council on Addiction Prevention & Education (CAPE) is offering Dutchess County parents and guardians and their children ages 12 to 19 access to Teen Intervene, a program dedicated to helping teenagers in the early stages of alcohol and drug misuse. The free program is part of a state-wide initiative through New York’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS).

According to Mental Health America, 4% of adolescents, nationally, reported having a substance use disorder in the last year, 1.64% noted that they are abusing alcohol and 3.16% admitted to using illegal substances. Specifically, New York reports 3.87%, or 52,000, of adolescents are currently struggling with a substance use disorder. Through Teen Intervene, an evidence-based program, teens and their parents are provided education, support and motivation through a series of two to four sessions that are designed to help reduce, and eventually eliminate, the use of alcohol and/or other drugs and other risky behaviors.

“We know how important it is to meet teens where they are and recognize that many may not see their use as an emerging problem or be aware that they need to change their behavior,” said CAPE’s Agency Director, Crissy Groenewegen. “That’s exactly what this program was designed for – welcoming any teenager who has experienced mild to moderate problems with substance use into a calm, confidential educational environment.”

Parents and guardians will also have the option to attend a session with their teen to further their own education and learn how they can better support their loved one. In fact, CAPE has expanded the reach of this free program even more by offering both in-person – at a host of locations across Dutchess County, from public and private schools and residential treatment facilities to community centers – and virtual sessions in both English and Spanish.

For more information on Teen Intervene, or to make a referral, please contact Crissy Groenewegen at 845-765-8301 (ex.103) or via email at cgroenewegen@capedc.org.

About the Council on Addiction Prevention & Education (CAPE)

Founded in 1987, the Council on Addiction Prevention & Education (CAPE), formally the Dutchess County Council on Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency, Inc, was established to meet the growing need for Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) prevention and education services in Dutchess County.

Through its guiding values of Compassion, Credibility, Collaboration Commitment, and Passion, along with being certified by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, CAPE’s mission is to become the premier substance use disorder prevention and recovery provider in the Mid-Hudson Region.

For more information on CAPE, or learn how to get involved, visit www.capedc.org or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.