HHS forms Parent Education Network
to address adolescent alcohol, substance abuse 

Broomfield Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Broomfield Collaborative Partnership (BCP) have teamed up to address adolescent alcohol and substance abuse issues.  

According to a survey of Broomfield youth, 53 percent reported that they had used alcohol in the 30 days before they took the survey, 41 percent had used marijuana and 11 percent had used other illegal drugs. To respond, HHS began using federal grant funds to initiate the Broomfield Substance Abuse and Alcohol Free Environment (B-SAFE) program for teens in March of 2005.   

In the program, substance abuse coordinators provide services at HHS and at Broomfield and Legacy high schools designed  to reduce adolescent alcohol and substance abuse, and increase awareness and response through community collaboration.  Prevention and intervention services include evaluation and referral, individual counseling, therapeutic groups, support groups, parent groups, and education.   

Now, B-SAFE is seeking individuals from civic, religious, and commercial groups, and parents of students from each middle and high school in Broomfield to form a volunteer  Parent Engagement Network (PEN) to deliver prevention and intervention news throughout Broomfield.   

The group will address substance abuse at the community level by becoming educated about the effects of alcohol and substance abuse on adolescents. It will then use the information to educate and raise awareness throughout the community. 

Studies have shown that parental influence can supersede the influence of peer pressure, pop culture and new technologies, including a variety of influences from the Internet.  

To find out more about Broomfield’s PEN, call Diane Wardlaw, community liaison for the B-SAFE program, at (303) 552-1607. 

If you know of a teen that might need help with these issues, contact Susan Parker or Tracie Hagie, substance abuse coordinators at (720) 887-2231.