Who is this for?: Our 10-week substance abuse prevention program is split into two age groups; children from early adolescence 12-14 and teenagers from 15-17. Each program has many similarities with the focus on conscious choices, building resilience against peer pressure and risky situations, positive development and well-being. There will be key differences tailored to age-appropriate resources as well as real life stories, shared to make an impact.

This program empowers students with the tools and confidence to make healthy, informed choices through three key areas of growth: Personal Self-Management, Social Skills, and Resistance Skills.

Personal Self-Management Skills help students build a stronger sense of self-awareness and personal responsibility. Students learn to understand how their self-image and self-talk influences their behavior, make thoughtful decisions, and consider the impact of their choices. They also explore ways to reduce stress, manage anxiety, and view challenges as opportunities for growth. This program hones in on mindset coaching along with holistic approaches to bettering the students’ mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Social Skills focus on improving communication and confidence in everyday interactions. Students learn to overcome shyness, express themselves clearly, and avoid misunderstandings. Through guided practice, they develop assertiveness skills—learning how to make and refuse requests respectfully—and discover positive alternatives to aggression or passivity when facing difficult situations.

Resistance Skills provide students with knowledge and real-world strategies to stand strong against peer and media pressures. They learn to question myths about tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use, as well as violence, while practicing refusal skills in a supportive environment. The goal is to shift social norms around substance use and risk behaviors, empowering students to make choices that align with their goals and values.

Sober Friends’ “My Future, My Choice” program consists of amazing volunteers such as D.A.R.E. officers, Montgomery PD, and certified counselors. In addition to volunteers, we have hired practitioners in healing arts who use holistic methods to promote overall well-being.

We offer help beyond the D.A.R.E. Program’s scope because at Sober Friends, we understand that children oftentimes feel either intimidated or scolded when receiving information from officers alone. Research has proven that there is often pushback or indifference from many children when authority figures are the only part of the equation in substance abuse prevention, which is why our program incorporates techniques outside of the norm that are enjoyable and effective.

This 10-week program is once a week in-person at our Sober Friends location. Once your child has completed the 10-week program, they will receive a certificate and be directly connected to resources on how or where they can continue to put into action what they have learned with us.