President's Message - June 2023

I am always amazed by how different people approach the drug problem. The predominant approach is, "I'm going to learn everything about drugs," and then, "I'm going to tell others all about everything I've learned, and that will save them." However, becoming a drug expert does not stop the drug problem. 

What We Can Do

Instead, becoming a people expert and caring about emotional feelings and emotional intelligence will solve the drug problem.

First, start with yourself (scary). Figure out how you numb yourself. What do you do to cope with your daily problems? I confess that one of my numbing routines is eating ice cream. I eat it when I'm bored, frustrated, or feeling down. Besides tasting good, ice cream takes me back to my own family life when life was simple and shared. However, this doesn't address my real issues, and it leads to weight gain, making it a self-defeating coping mechanism.

You are Human

In today's busy world, we are often seduced into believing that "someone has all the answers," but that simply is not true. You must find your own answers and equip your children and grandchildren to find their best answers. We must be willing to say, "I don't know, but I'll find out.”

It is not foolish to admit that you don't know something. However, it is foolish to act like you know everything because it robs you of the opportunity to be a human being who is working and learning together with others.

In our credentialed world, we bear a heavy burden to provide people with answers because we are often paid to give advice. Knowledge used to be a top-down approach, but now it seems like everyone wants to be seen as an expert rather than a human being. I'm not asking you to become a drug expert. I'm asking you to be a parent or a person who cares about yourself, your child, and your family. That is the most effective approach to drug prevention.

Be the Laptop

I want to share Colin Powell's advice with you. “All children need a laptop. Not a computer, but a human laptop. Moms, Dads, Grannies and Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles - someone to hold them, read to them, teach them. Loved ones who will embrace them and pass on the experience, rituals, and knowledge of a hundred previous generations. Loved ones who will pass to the next generation their expectations of them, their hopes, and their dreams.”

When you're feeling overwhelmed, don't jump on your computer or laptop. Instead, take the time to sit and visit with family and friends. Engage your children in conversations or play games and share funny family stories.

Fun Family Resources

Our Family Activity Kit helps establish lifelong healthy habits, rituals, and traditions. The game materials get you up to speed on having a weekly family meeting including new character/value topics, creating memories from the week, and staying organized. Have a happy summer, slow down, and give your kids the gift of quality time together.

A family is only as strong as its foundation. Coming together at dinnertime each day not only keeps a family involved with each other but also creates a network of communication and support. Family dinners should be a time of connection, communication, and fun.

Whether you have made a recent decision to engage in regular family dinners or have always had family dinners, making a meal together can turn dinner time into something everyone looks forward to.

Here are some fun recipes and tips to make the most of your family time!

Have a happy summer, slow down, and give your kids the gift of quality time together.

-Peggy Sapp, President & CEO