Overcoming Alcohol, Drugs–

Forum, Films Will Show The Power Of Positive Peer Support

RIDGEFIELD — Teens helping each other stay sober through peer-based support groups is a growing trend in Connecticut. The peer-to-peer support groups, which also exist for families, will be among the key topics discussed as area advocates join together to present an evening of hope and a celebration of sobriety at the Ridgefield Playhouse on Monday, November 10, starting at 7 pm.

The evening will feature two short documentaries that highlight young people and their families finding a path to recovery from alcohol and drug abuse. The films, Central Pride and Vinnie, were produced and directed by Greg Williams, 25, a native of Newtown.

 “After getting sober at 17, I got to witness hundreds of other young people succeed in recovery from drugs and alcohol and then got to watch them take their personal experience and turn around to offer recovery support to their peers,” said Mr Williams. “I was inspired and I knew that if I could tell their stories on video, others could see, hear, and feel the power of peer support.”

Central Pride tells the story of Central High School of Bridgeport, and its promising peer-to-peer recovery support model called The Leadership Group. It started four years ago with just three students and through peer-to-peer outreach now includes more than 300 participating students who help each other live drug- and alcohol-free.

Teachers and students will be attending the event to share stories of transformed lives and how their group has created a positive culture change in the school.

In between film screenings, a panel of professional and community experts in the field of alcohol and drug prevention, treatment and recovery will address issues brought up in the films and answer audience questions. The event is sponsored by Connecticut Turning to Youth and Families (CTYF), Caron Treatment Centers, Insight Counseling, Ridgefield Prevention Council, The Regional Youth Adult Substance Abuse Program (RYASAP), and The Housatonic Valley Commission Against Substance Abuse (HVCASA).

“The power of peer support in group therapy and support groups in the community literally make the difference between people successfully tolerating the distress they feel in early recovery and giving up,” says Liz Jorgensen, CADC and owner of Insight Counseling in Ridgefield. “The sense of hope and community that these connections give is, to me, the most essential part of recovery.”

Ms Jorgensen and area advocates came together and decided it was extremely important to share their strides through peer and family support programs because all too often residents may not be aware of them as a resource.

 “I didn’t know there were a bunch of kids my age with a problem, I had no idea, I thought you had to be older to have a problem,” remarks Vinnie, 22, of Ansonia, in Williams’ documentary bearing his name. Now nearly four years sober, Vinnie’s story illustrates the spirit of giving back to other young people seeking sobriety.

In Connecticut, 16,000 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 need treatment for illicit drug use but do not receive it and another 18,000 adolescents do not receive treatment they require for alcohol abuse, according to a CASAC Connecticut Legislative Policy Paper.

Mr Williams has been in recovery from drugs and alcohol since the age of 17. Currently co-director of Connecticut Turning to Youth and Families, he has a strong passion for carrying a message of hope and recovery supports to those who still suffer from alcohol and drug problems.

Mr Williams is an experienced filmmaker with a strong network of young people in recovery that have allowed him to access inspiring messages of hope on video. The documentaries are autobiographical in nature, capturing the reality of long-term recovery for young people and families alike. The films effectively have been used as tools in schools, treatment programs, recovery groups, and even Connecticut state policy meetings.

Currently Mr Williams is the project manager responsible for facilitating the construction of CTYouthAndFamilies.org, which will be a free state-of-the-art video rich site offering families and youth an online resource for recovery support.

The November 10 program is free and open to all. Donations are greatly appreciated and will benefit Connecticut Turning to Youth and Families. For more information, visit CTYouthAndFamilies.org.