Substance Abuse Education & Prevention
Macomb Family Services takes a comprehensive approach to Substance Use Disorders to reduce the harm it causes on our society. That’s why in addition to offering treatment, we also work tirelessly to prevent addiction through Substance Use Disorder education. We focus our prevention efforts on school-based outreach programs for young people. All of our prevention programs are endorsed by the National Registry of Evidence-Based Prevention Programs.
Substance Abuse Education Programs for Students
Botvin Life Skills
At a Glance
- For
- 4th–9th grade students
- Length
- 8–12 sessions
Program Description
Botvin Life Skills is an evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention program designed to build resilience and strengthen personal and social skills. Students learn how to resist social and peer pressures that encourage risky behaviors such as tobacco, alcohol, and drug use.
Anger Management
At a Glance
- For
- Middle and High School students (can be adapted for all ages)
- Length
- 8–12 sessions
Program Description
This educational program provides students with skills necessary for positive social and emotional development, encouraging healthy expression and regulation of anger and other emotions.
Prime for Life—Alternative to Suspension
At a Glance
- For
- High School students
- Length
- One –-hour session
- Location
- MFS Office, School, or Virtual
Program Description
A prevention and early intervention program designed to change beliefs, attitudes, risk perceptions, motivations, and knowledge related to substance use.
Protecting You Protecting Me (PYPM)
At a Glance
- For
- Elementary and Middle School students (5th grade focus)
- Length
- 8–12 weeks
Program Description
Focuses on brain development and how alcohol and other substances negatively impact growth, while teaching safety, decision-making, and media awareness.
Too Good for Drugs
At a Glance
- For
- Middle School students
- Length
- 10 sessions
Program Description
Improves social-emotional skills including goal setting, decision making, communication, peer-pressure refusal, conflict resolution, and media literacy.
Overcoming Obstacles
At a Glance
- For
- Elementary, Middle, and High School students
- Length
- 8–12 sessions
Program Description
Strengthens communication, goal-setting, and problem-solving skills while improving academic success, self-efficacy, and social-emotional development.
Life Skills—Special Education classes
At a Glance
- For
- Special education students
- Length
- 6–12 weekly sessions
- Topics
- Substance Use Disorder education, high-risk
Program Description
Life Skills addresses the most important factors that may lead adolescents to use drugs by teaching a combination of health information, general life skills, and Substance Use Disorder resistance skills.
Summer Camps
At a Glance
- For
- Kids 5–14
- Length
- 6 weeks
- Topics
- Substance Use Disorder education (any program above)
Program Description
During summer break, we facilitate our Summer Camps at various locations. These programs combine having fun and making healthy choices, reminding kids of the dangers of Substance Use Disorders.
Other Prevention Services
Working with other organizations
In addition to the programs we just covered, Macomb Family Services works with other groups to develop community programs addressing Substance Use Disorders. We provide materials and help with community networking and referrals.
Working for other organizations
We also provide presentations, training, and consultations for schools, churches, community coalitions and other groups in Northern Macomb County. Our team can design the content to address specific concerns of the audience.
Federal and State funding has been provided through Macomb County Community Mental Health (MCCMH) / Office of Substance Abuse (MCOSA) to support project costs. Additional support has been provided through United Way Community Services and private donations.
Recipients of substance use prevention services have rights protected by State and Federal law and public rules. For information, contact a Macomb Family Services Recipient Rights Advisor at (586) 226-3440.