Those questions and more will be answered at Minnesota Teen Challenge’s free seminar on Feb. 25 for parents, youth workers, teachers and concerned adults through their Know the Truth drug and alcohol prevention program. Reformed teenage drug users will share how they hid drug habits from parents. Licensed Chemical Dependency professionals and the Director of Minnesota’s Chemical Health Division will discuss drug trends, root addiction causes and interventions.

“It was all about choices,” said Gina Snider-Evans, Know the Truth presenter. “It started with my decision to try marijuana at age 13. I never thought that one ‘fun’ time would lead to addiction. But the next 15 years were a nightmare of check forgeries and various crimes to pay for addictions to acid, cocaine, meth and alcohol, involving multiple arrests and losing custody of my children.”

However, Snider-Evans’ story didn’t end there. While in the Shakopee women’s prison, she heard about Minnesota Teen Challenge’s recovery program and learned that with hard work she could turn her life around to find freedom. After completing the program, Snider-Evans worked to re-build relationships with her children. She gained a certificate in construction electricity but Minnesota Teen Challenge offered her a staff position. She now presents Know the Truth’s prevention program.

A recent national survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 74.3 percent of high school students have drunk alcohol more than once during their lifetime, 48.4 percent of students have used marijuana, and 20.2 percent have used marijuana more than once during the 30 days preceding the survey.

Since Know the Truth began in 2006-2007, Snider-Evans and her team of young adults who have overcome addictions have spoken in more than 65 schools reaching over 30,000 students. They share real-life drug use experiences with methamphetamines, cocaine, depression, date rape, steroids, alcohol, and how poor choices bring destructive behaviors. They explain the physical and psychological effects of drug use, model realistic refusal skills, and provide options to combat addictions. They engage highschoolers in open dialogue about choice consequences and help them tackle everyday struggles.

Know the Truth also offers valuable resources to parents, teachers, counselors and students on abstaining from drug use or where to find help for teens struggling with addictions. These services provide various resources for individual needs such as: interactive Web portals, Internet discussion forums, face-to-face teaching and discussion sessions, plus excellent materials for classroom environments.

“Due to its experience dealing with the effects of drug addiction, Know the Truth is uniquely equipped to combat drug use and educate teens, families and communities on the dangers of drugs, alcohol and addiction,” Rep. Jim Ramstad said of the program.

One teacher said of Know the Truth, “Gina’s story was powerful; shared examples left a noticeable impression on students. She discussed genetics, gateway drugs, brain chemical alteration, etc. Her honest genuine approach works. This presentation was one of the best I’ve seen in 20 years of teaching health.”

“Presenters did a great job of explaining how it started for them, how they were normal kids thinking it would never happen to them,” another teacher commented.

And students say, “This class opened my eyes to all of the bad things out there and how to avoid them.”

“I loved the stories and video clips. You guys are amazing, I’m never trying drugs.”

“You guy’s story really impacted my life, because I was just going to drop what I loved to do and start drinking, so thank you.”

Attend Know the Truth’s free seminar on Feb. 25 to learn more about the program and methods making profound differences for Minnesota teens.


ACTION POINT
The Night to Know the Truth seminar will take place on Feb. 25 at Minnesota Teen Challenge (3231 1st Ave. S., Minneapolis). Tours and refreshments begin at 6 p.m., and the program begins at 7 p.m. To register for the seminar or learn more about Know the Truth, visit www.knowthetruth.mntc.org or call (612) FREEDOM.