New way of seeing ADDEM

By MAUREEN MCGUINNESS- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

The Albany Diocesan Drug Education Ministry (ADDEM) would like people to begin thinking about them in a new way.

The organization would like to be known now as ADDEM Prevention Ministry.

While schools and parishes often think of the office as providing drug information services, their work encompasses much more, said Eileen Davenport, associate director of prevention services for ADDEM Prevention Ministry.

"Prevention is comprised of five areas: stress management, self-esteem, communication, decision-making and drug education," she explained.

Often, parishes and schools expect a call to ADDEM Prevention Ministry will result in a workshop on drugs, Mrs. Davenport said. They are often surprised when communication or decision-making skills are presented instead.

That's because people begin using drugs for physical, psychological and social reasons, she said. In order to prevent youth from using substances, a wide range of skills must be developed, rather than just presenting information on drugs.

(For more information on ADDEM Prevention Ministry, call 453-6771.)(MM)

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