Prevention Council

Providing Substance Abuse Education, Information and Referral Services

July 15 is a special day for Ballston Spa resident Sean Kelleher

By Lauren Mineau for The Saratogian>>

July 15 is a special day for Ballston Spa resident Sean Kelleher. He’ll be three years sober and attending a film screening at Bow Tie Cinemas that he brought to life.

“The Anonymous People,” a film on the reality of addiction is being brought to the Spa City at 7 tonight through a combination of crowd-sourcing, The Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Council of Saratoga County and Kelleher’s efforts. He saw the film and said it opened his eyes to the world of advocacy and he thought he’d give it a try.

“This is a way for me to give back. This film approaches recovery in a new way. A lot of people see the fun, dramatic and ridiculous side of addiction, that’s not the reality,” he said.

The film features interviews with some of the 23.5 million Americans facing long-term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction and appearances from actress Kristen Johnston, former NBA star Chris Herren, Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner and former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, who are all in recovery themselves.

Kelleher never expected the film to gain so much momentum, but the screening sold out within six weeks. In fact, Bow Tie Cinemas upgraded the screening to a larger theater as of Monday afternoon to accommodate the crowd.

“When I set up the page, I thought ,‘This will never happen.’ I never expected to be watching ticket sales go up every day,” he said, “I’m really excited about the way this turned out. Addiction is here and it affects everyone in one way or another.”

He immediately felt connection to the film when he learned the director shared the same connection with July 15 — director and film producer Greg Williams also marks each year of his sobriety that day.

“I kind of thought it was meant to be,” Kelleher said.

Janine Stuchin, executive director at The Prevention Council, said this screening is part of a dialogue they hope to start in Saratoga Springs.

“Addiction is a chronic illness, and those suffering are the same as HIV or breast cancer survivors, we need to get around the shame of addiction and spark some discussion,” she said.

The film features interviews with those struggling with addiction and questions the stigma surrounding it, especially in American society. The film’s stay in Saratoga was brought together by Gathr, a service that works by giving people the chance to unite and rally for a certain film to be brought to their town. Once a certain amount of tickets are reserved, Gathr works to bring the screening to life, as requested.

“This film is not your tired old addiction story often seen on reality television or in the news,” Williams said in a press release. “There are no needles hanging out of people’s arms, pictures of the brain, or fried eggs in a pan. We set out to find the answer to one very fundamental question: Why don’t we treat addiction in this country like any other health issue?”

On July 22, the group will host a follow-up discussion at 7 p.m. at the Saratoga County Arts Council.

“A lot of people have a hard time asking for help, and I’d like to do my part to change that,” Kelleher said.

No Community Has Immunity from Heroin

Photo: MarkBolles.com

Story by Arthur Gonick, Saratoga Today NewspaperSARATOGA SPRINGS— We tend to wax romantic about our community. And in truth, compared to other communities, we are relatively safe. As such, we sometimes fall into an illusion that we are insulated from the worst of society’s ills.

But at street level, there’s no such illusion. This is the reality Sergeant Tim Sicko and the Saratoga Springs Police Investigation Division sees:

“Just in the last four to five months, we’ve seen over a half-dozen overdoses from heroin.” He said. Moreover, “the number of heroin buys my (undercover) officers make have risen significantly over the past two and one-half years I’ve been in charge of the division.” The Investigation Division oversees both the drug and criminal units.

When asked to estimate the percentage, Sergeant Sicko commented. “Undercover buys of heroin were maybe 2 out of 100 just a couple of years ago, when we saw mostly crack cocaine and pills on the street. Today, I would estimate it’s closer to 50 percent.” He said.

The Prevention Council of Saratoga confirms that a significant uptick in heroin usage in this community has occurred, as part of a nationwide trend. Executive Director Janine Stuchin noted:

“No one starts off on heroin. National and local studies have shown that the recent upsurge in heroin use is directly connected with prescription pain killer (opiate) abuse.”

The purpose of this article is not to sensationalize or unduly alarm, but to educate and advocate that if your head is in the sand about heroin in Saratoga County and you are thinking “it can’t happen here,” take a look around.

“It” already is happening.

And while no one will purport that Saratoga County has as bad a problem as some of the larger and more urban cities, to deny the insidious presence of this most insidious of drugs would be irresponsible.

Both Ms. Stuchin and Sgt. Sicko cite the relative inexpensiveness of heroin as a factor in its recent rise in usage. “Heroin is less expensive than illicit prescription pain killers such as oxycodone, explaining the trend toward increased heroin use.” Ms. Stuchin noted. Sgt. Sicko also noted the “difficult, painful withdrawal process” that is involved from heroin once addicted that will naturally keep people looking for their next fix.

Compounding this is the phenomenon of the “chase after the initial high,” as Sgt. Sicko put it, which would lead a user who might have started snorting heroin to graduate to a needle for a greater effect.

Finally, you have the factor that, according to any study, the profile of the heroin user is younger than ever. “One of the recent overdoses we had was someone in their 20s,” Sgt. Sicko noted, “fortunately, he was not a fatality.”

For the user, Sgt. Sicko noted that a factor compounding the danger of heroin are the other substances that are lacing it; substances which can be even more lethal than the heroin itself. “You don’t know what you are accepting or where it came from.” Sgt. Sicko noted. “In contrast, you can look at a given pill and if you are savvy, recognize the manufacturer – although this is not foolproof.”

Heroin dealers attempt to mitigate this by engaging in a “branding” exercise: Labeling their nickel or dime bags with a logo or markings that would tend to inspire a false sense of confidence – I’ve bought this before, it’s OK – yet, Sergeant Sicko rightly points out that the street dealer has little knowledge of where today’s batch came from, if they were inclined to care in the first place.

He spread an array of evidence bags before us and my eyes kept going to one dealer’s mark.

All I could think of was: How desperate would you have to be to shoot up from a bag that is marked “Game Over.”?

But is the game over? Hardly.

“We have a number of full-time people who are on top of this daily,” Sgt. Sicko notes, “you’re seeing a significant increase in heroin arrests because our people, working with other law enforcement divisions such as the State Police, as well as a network of informants, are battling this daily and we have no intention of pulling back.”

“We are nowhere near the level of activity of other cities precisely because we are fortunate to have a group of young officers who are dedicated and on top of things… when a dealer comes to town to set up shop, we usually know who that person is already,” he continued. “But it’s a matter of constant vigilance.”

In that connection, Sgt. Sicko noted that while the profile of the heroin user the police are has gotten younger, this is not a major problem at either the High School (where he lauded the work of Officer Lloyd Davis who is stationed there), or on the Skidmore campus at this point.

The Prevention Council confirms this, to some extent. “Our data from student surveys in Saratoga County show about eight percent of high school students are involved in prescription drug abuse and one percent reporting using heroin,” noted Janine Stuchin.

Any law enforcement officer would acknowledge that even with a consistent focus on interdicting heroin supply, long-term effectiveness of any effort is dependent upon programs that educate and impact on demand. Sgt. Sicko, while acknowledging that the restoration of D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) funding in the city is something on his “wish list,” cites that the education programs provided by the Prevention Council are invaluable.

“The role of the Prevention Council in addressing the scourge of heroin in our community is to be preventive rather than reactive.” Ms. Stuchin said. We do this though programs, like Too Good for Drugs, taught in many local school districts, which educate children on the inherent dangers.”

“We regularly collaborate with law enforcement with drug take-back days. For instance, the next National Prescription Take-Back Day will be Saturday, April 26 and we will be announcing local sites that will be participating.”

But both the police and Prevention Council note that the real education and greatest impact is an outgrowth of effective parenting. “Parents should not be afraid to talk to their kids and find out ‘what do you know about this stuff?’ Look at who they are hanging out with and take note of changes in behavior and appearance, for instance.” Sgt. Sicko says.

While it would be nice to have an ending here, in fact this is a story about the process of progress, the ebb and flow of societal struggles and responses; perhaps a battle that will never be won, but nonetheless a battle worth undertaking daily.

Prevention Council receives grant from NY Center for Problem Gambling

The marketing is prominent.

And so are the gambling options.

You can’t go far around here without coming across a chance to wager some money.

All the options tend to force the hand of parents to talk about gambling with their children.

Nick Parslow of Saratoga Springs, says honesty has been the best approach with his 15-year-old twins, Noah and Miles.

“We’ve been very upfront with them that there is a lot of interest and excitement around it but it can be a risky behavior,” said Parslow about what he tells his children.

He says his kids are smart and won’t buy into the “just say no” mentality when they see how the community thrives, in part because of gambling.

“It’s very hard to tell them all these things are bad when they look around at what a wonderful town we have based on some of those things,” Parslow said.

And soon there could be more gaming options in Saratoga Springs. The Casino and Raceway hopes to be the winning bidder for full-table games.

Here or elsewhere in the region, now’s a good time to step up prevention.

“It certainly makes it that much more important that we’re out there with the message and raising awareness among parents of the risks of you gambling,” said Robin Lyle of The Prevention Council. “Regardless of where gambling expands in the state there’s going to have to be heightened prevention efforts.”

The Prevention Council plans an outreach to 90,000 parents, beginning next month. They hope parents will share the message with children that gambling now can lead to gambling addicts later. Something Nick Parlsow’s boys already know.

“Try to be realistic with them and kind of show them real examples.”

The Prevention Council plans meetings and presentations to parent groups, and a web site that will launch next month.

Alarm Over Heroin Case

CLIFTON PARK – A report accusing a student of injecting another with heroin at the region’s largest suburban school district set off bouts of hand-wringing Friday over the pervasiveness of the highly addictive drug.

A Shenendehowa student, identified byState Police as Daniel Lewis, 17, allegedly shot up a 15-year-old classmate with a liquid form of heroin in the high school boy’s locker room about 11:30 a.m. Thursday while classes were in session, Superintendent L. Oliver Robinsonsaid. A third student alerted district officials to suspicious activity.

“It wasn’t a forced injection,” State Police Public Information Officer Mark Cepiel said.

Troopers responded to the school on Route 146 and investigated the complaint. They said they found Lewis of Clifton Park in possession of heroin and hypodermic needles. They charged the teen with a felony count of criminal injection of a narcotic drug, misdemeanor drug possession, child endangerment and possession of hypodermic needles.

At a news conference in the district’s office Friday, Robinson called the allegations “particularly alarming.” He said the male students had arranged to meet during physical education class. He characterized it as an isolated incident.

“This is the first reported case of heroin use at Shen,” Robinson said.

But the arrest of a senior for allegedly supplying a sophomore with heroin inside the large southern Saratoga County school during class hours sparked discussions among police, parents and public health officials. The cheap price of heroin makes it increasingly attractive for the young, Cepiel said.

“Heroin use, we have found, unfortunately, is on the upswing in the Capital District, and that does include high school children,” Cepiel said. “It is, in some cases, cheaper than marijuana.”

The 15-year-old was not charged, but that could change, Cepiel said.

Janine Stuchin, executive director of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Council, said heroin use among high schoolers was rare and not on the rise. A Prevention Council survey of 6,193 students at eight high schools in Saratoga County, including Shenendehowa, between 2010 and 2013 showed only one percent had used heroin within the past 30 days. That figure matches national statistics, Stuchin said. “It’s not rampant; it’s rare,” she said. “Our data is very consistent. It has not shown a trending upward.”

Prescription narcotic use has risen, however, and that can lead to heroin abuse because a heroin high costs about $10 compared to $60 for prescription drugs, Stuchin said. “We really need to talk about the heroin problem in the context of the prescription drug problem,” she said. “It’s cheaper and easier to buy.”

Six percent of high school students in the county reported using over-the-counter opiates in the past month, while 21 percent admitted using marijuana and 34 percent, alcohol, according to Prevention Council.

The arrest of Lewis at Shenendehowa Thursday occurred after a report was made to school officials by a third student who observed what looked like an exchange of pills between Lewis and the 15-year-old, Robinson said. The district alerted police after one student admitted being under the influence of heroin, the superintendent said. The case marked the first involving heroin in a county school and the first intentional injection of the drug, county District Attorney James A. Murphy III said.

The students involved were checked by a school nurse before being questioned by police, Robinson said. “We found the actual injection did occur,” he said. The district employs hall monitors and surveillance cameras. “I think we have many reasonable precautions, however, each time an incident occurs, it’s an opportunity to reflect,” Robinson said.

Lewis was arraigned before town Justice Robert Rybak. He was taken to the county jail on $2,500 bail and he remained incarcerated Friday afternoon.

Lewis is due back in court Thursday. He faces an extended suspension from school if found guilty. He had no prior criminal history with the State Police, Cepiel said. The trooper said no pills were found by police during their investigation.

About 3,200 students attend Shenendehowa High School.

Sally Vanderzee, president of the Shenendehowa Parent Teacher Student Association, said she was shocked by the allegations. She said parents need to communicate with their children about the dangers of drugs and importance of making good decisions.

“This is a wake-up call for all parents,” Vanderzee said.

Janine Stuchin named Prevention Council’s permanent executive director

The Saratogian
By Jennie Grey

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Council of Saratoga County announced Dec. 4 the unanimous appointment of Janine Stuchin of Saratoga Springs as permanent executive director after an extensive community-wide search.

Stuchin had served as interim director of the council for the past six months since former executive director Heather Kisselback resigned.

The Prevention Council is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides education, information and referral services on alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and violence prevention to individuals and local communities.

“The board of directors has confirmed the recommendation of the search committee and appointed Janine Stuchin as executive director of the Prevention Council of Saratoga County,” board of directors President Richard Ferguson said. “Janine has guided the organization admirably on an interim basis and rose to the top through the long, involved selection and interview process. We are excited to have someone as the executive director who has dedicated her life to prevention, and we wish her all success.”

Stuchin has been a practicing health educator for more than 20 years and has a Master of Science degree in health education from Penn State University. Prior to her selection as executive director, she served as coalition manager with the Prevention Council for 14 years under a program funded by the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Tobacco Control. She has been a certified health education specialist since 1990. Previously, Stuchin was a campus health educator at Skidmore College and Penn State University.

“I am thankful for the trust and unanimous vote of confidence the board of trustees has placed in me to rise up and meet today’s challenges on behalf of the Prevention Council,” Stuchin said. “Looking ahead to 2014, I am excited by the opportunities for this agency to not only maintain its positive growth but continue the important work reducing the impact of substance abuse, alcohol abuse, violence and other destructive behavior among our young people and within the community where we live.”

Former executive director Kisselback first offered to resign after being arrested in March for driving while intoxicated. The board chose then to keep her on, place her on a six-month probation and instruct her to get counseling. However, when Kisselback again tendered her resignation in mid-June, the board’s executive committee accepted it.

“Ms. Kisselback felt it would be in the best interest of the council for her to step down, and we agreed,” Vice President Molly Scala said.

Prevention Council committee continues search for executive director

The Saratogian>>

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A search committee has been formed and has begun looking at candidates for a new executive director of The Prevention Council of Saratoga County.

Early in July, The Prevention Council appointed Janine Stuchin as its interim executive director while it searches for a permanent replacement for Heather Kisselback, who resigned last month after details of her driving while intoxicated arrest came to light.

The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors appointed the committee.

“At The Prevention Council, we know that the most effective prevention involves the entire community. By incorporating parents, school, government and community leaders into our selection process, we continue in our task of bringing the community together to ensure that we make our choice for executive director the right choice for the families of Saratoga County,” Search Committee co-chairman Michael Harman said.

The executive director of The Prevention Council is responsible for the continuing development of the council’s mission and ensuring it is carried out professionally and compassionately through comprehensive programming that prevents risky and problem behaviors in children and teens. They are also expected to represent the agency publicly and within the office environment as a leader in prevention health.

“To that end, we are looking for leaders in our community who have experience in prevention or related fields to apply for the position … ,” Harman said.

Qualified individuals interested in applying have until close of business Sept. 15 to submit a résumé and letter of intent to Executive Director Search Committee co-chairman Michael Harman at michaelmharman@yahoo.com.

To view the executive director job description and requirements, go to www.preventioncouncil.org/about/careers.

The Executive Director Search Committee includes:

Community members:

• Brian Farr, First Step Consultation

• Suzanne Hackert, LCSW-RHudson Headwaters Health Network

• John Kelly, coordinator of the Saratoga Office of the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, retired from the Saratoga Springs Police Department

• James Murphy III, Saratoga County District Attorney

Prevention Council staff members:

• Matthew Andrus, media and communications coordinator at Southern Adirondack Tobacco-Free Coalition, a program of The Prevention Council

• Dawn Howk, Homeless Education Services

• Jenn Wood, coordinator, Shenendehowa Community Coalition

Prevention Council board members:

• Michael M. Harman, Prevention Council treasurer, certified public accountant at Marvin and Co.

• Chris Scanlan, Prevention Council board member, principal at Waterford Junior-Senior High School Public Relations

• Richard Ferguson, Prevention Council board president, senior vice-president and corporate Secretary at Saratoga National Bank

• Molly McBride-Scala, Prevention Council board president-elect, administrative law judge for the DEC

Prevention Council of Saratoga County names interim executive director

The Saratogian>>

janine stuchin hed shot

The Prevention Council has appointed Janine Stuchin as its interim executive director while it searches for a permanent replacement for Heather Kisselback, who resigned last month after details of her driving while intoxicated arrest came to light.

Stuchin’s appointment by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors was effective Monday.

Financial Manager David Garmley had been serving as the Prevention Council’s temporary head administrator since Kisselback resigned.

According to a press release from the Prevention Council, Stuchin is a longtime resident of Saratoga Springs, has a Master of Science degree in health education from Penn State University and has been a practicing health educator for more than 20 years. She served for 14 years as coalition manager with the Prevention Council for the state Department of Health’s Tobacco Control Program.

A certified health education specialist since 1990, Stuchin has worked as a campus health educator at Skidmore College and Penn State University. According to the press release, she is an expert at relating health prevention and tobacco control information in language suitable for a broad audience.

“Janine has a longstanding personal and professional commitment to the health and well-being of our community,” Board President Richard Ferguson said, adding that Stuchin’s appointment was vetted and approved by the state Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services.”

“I’m proud of the work the Prevention Council staff does every day to transform the lives of children and families for the better,” Stuchin said in the Prevention Council’s release. “There is no one in this community who has not been affected by our work in one way or another. Through collaboration with many agencies, we have been and always will be a resource for reducing the impact of substance abuse, alcohol abuse, violence and other destructive behaviors on young people and the communities where we live.”

A search for a permanent executive director is in its initial stages. Kisselback resigned in mid-June, months after her arrest and only after it became public in news reports. She informed the board of her arrest immediately after it happened in early spring and offered her resignation then, but the board allowed her to stay on provided she receive counseling.

Board Treasurer Michael Harman is heading up the search for a new executive director. Interested candidates should send a resumé and a letter of intent to Michael Harman at michaelmharman@yahoo.com.

Harman said he and the board also are seeking input from the public on the type of candidate that should fill the position.

The 31-year-old Prevention Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent the abuse of drugs and alcohol. The group administers a variety of programs, many that focus on youth and emphasize good decision-making.

Search on for new Prevention Council executive director

July 6, 2013
The Saratogian
By EMILY DONOHUE

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In the wake of Prevention Council Executive Director Heather Kisselback’s resignation, which was accepted by the organization’s board June 15 after details of her driving while intoxicated arrest came to light, the nonprofit is looking for applicants to fill the position.

Kisselback resigned in mid-June, months after her arrest and only after it became public in news reports. She had informed the board of her arrest in the early spring, immediately after it happened, and offered her resignation then, but the board allowed her to stay on provided she receive counseling.

In an emailed statement sent to Prevention Council supporters last week, the board acknowledged that it erred in handling the Kisselback situation.

“The Board of Directors of the Prevention Council would like to formally apologize for mishandling key aspects of the recent resignation of our agency’s executive director,” the statement read.

The statement went on to say the board pledges “to use these unfortunate circumstances as an opportunity for growth and learning.”

The 31-year-old Prevention Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent the abuse of drugs and alcohol. The group administers a variety of programs, many that focus on youth and emphasize good decision-making. It relies heavily on public donations.

Board Treasurer Michael Harman is heading up the search for a new executive director.

“The services that this organization and its staff provide are extremely valuable,” Harman said in a statement. “We hope to hear from a variety of skilled candidates whose vision and credentials are a good match for the agency and the position of executive director.”

Interested candidates should send their resumé and a letter of intent to Michael Harman at michaelmharman@yahoo.com.

Harman said he and the board also are seeking input from the public on the type of candidate that should fill the position.

“We’re very much open to listening,” he said, adding that stakeholders should feel free to email him with “advice or wisdom” about the search process.

Financial Manager David Garmley has been serving as the Prevention Council’s temporary head administrator since Kisselback resigned.

Harman said an interim director also will be appointed so the search committee can take the necessary time to find a new executive director.

PHOTOS, VIDEO of Prevention Council’s 2nd annual Tuff eNuff 5K Challenge

The Saratogian (Photo credits:  Ed Burke)

Prevention Council supporters trudged through mud pits, hopped through tires and climbed dirt hills Saturday morning during the second annual Tuff eNuff 5K challenge held on the BOCES campus in Saratoga Springs. TUFF eNUFF is a mud-filled course with obstacles for participants to crawl under, hurdle over, wade through, and work together toward success!

View Photos and Videos at The Saratogian

Reader’s View Teens’ mental, social and emotional health

Friday, May 17, 2013
The Saratogian

By Patty Kilgore
Counseling Services Director
The Prevention Council

Editor’s note: Throughout this week, The Saratogian has collaborated with the Prevention Council as part of National Prevention Week. This week-long observance was an opportunity to raise awareness about substance abuse and mental health issues, to promote prevention efforts and to educate our local communities about the factors that influence substance use.

Prevention Week celebrates the idea that everyone has a role to play in prevention. In order to be most effective, prevention should be woven into all aspects of young peoples’ lives.

It’s not easy being a teen. As we well know, adolescents face many challenges as they navigate the teen years. Their bodies are changing, their hormones are surging, their friendships are evolving. They are scrutinizing themselves and each other like never before. Their schoolwork is also getting increasingly demanding as they start thinking about life after high school. There’s an awful lot weighing on these kids’ minds.

Coupled with hormonal changes, teens are more prone to depression and likely to engage in risky and thrill-seeking behaviors than either younger children or adults. That’s why it’s so important that the adults in their lives meet the mental, social, and emotional health needs of this age group in positive and healthy ways.

It comes as no surprise to parents that teens can become particularly emotional over even the smallest problems. It often seems that teens overreact or get overly dramatic with extreme highs and lows in any given situation. But what may seem extreme to an adult is actually quite normal for a teen. Teens feel emotions much more intensely than adults — as much as two to four times stronger. Couple this with very little experience or context for such emotions and it can appear a teen is out of control.

He or she is actually navigating new territory, striving for independence, and developing important interpersonal relationships. Life is becoming more complex, stresses are increasing and at the same time teens are expected to be making some difficult life decisions. These circumstances are enough to overwhelm anyone.

All too frequently, a teen will choose to self-medicate difficult feelings with alcohol or another drug, or use another self-destructive behavior such as cutting, to cope. It’s critical that parents keep communicating with their teens through these rough patches. Provide a safe place to vent feelings, and if necessary, seek professional help for these behaviors. Substances may mask the intensity of the feelings temporarily, but the price might be a long-term addiction problem and a lack of healthy coping skills.

Teens make a lot of mistakes as they discover who they are. One of the hardest things you’ll do as a parent is to allow your child to fail and let him or her experience the natural consequences of their mistake. But healthy coping, decision making and social skills are developed as much through failure as through success. Our instinct is to protect our children from all hurt and pain, but sometimes we need to provide support on the sidelines while allowing them to experience these difficult life lessons.

Because of the intensity of a teen’s feelings, give your teen some space after a particularly difficult emotional time. Allow emotions to subside before starting a discussion. Encourage your teen to find a healthy outlet for his or her emotions, such as journaling, art projects, music or physical activity.

Adolescence is a time of self-discovery and identity development. Teens may try on many different identities as they navigate these years. Don’t fret through this process. Exploring different styles, personalities and friendships encourages healthy development. Just keep in mind, even with these changes, at his or her core, your teen is still the child you know and love.

It’s ironic, but true: parental support and guidance is most important at the very time teens seem to be pushing parents away. Muster the strength to push back. Listen to your teen and really hear what he or she is saying. Validate teens’ feelings while guiding them to find solutions. Parents are the key to keeping adolescents on a healthy path to adulthood.