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RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

Free ONLINE Bilingual Presentations

for Parents & Families

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Knowledge on Substance Abuse & Mental Health is Power!

 

FREE monthly Bilingual Online

“Empowered Families” Webinars

on Substance Abuse Prevention & Mental Health in 2023

The FREE Online Bilingual Family Webinars are designed to empower parents and teens with current information on the local trends and risks of substance abuse and mental health. The presentations will include local experts and local teens to support parents, teens, and trusted adults with information, skills, and opportunities to get involved. We encourage you to attend the webinars with your teens so that you have shared language in how to continue the conversations after. All webinars will be held on ZOOM and will have Spanish translation.

Zoom link for all “Empowered Families” Webinars:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85639267461?pwd=QXhpcEFHNVBNS2JWSlB4L3c5aXUzUT09

Meeting ID: 856 3926 7461            Passcode: 397459

 

 

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Topics of all “Empowered Families” Webinars 2023

 

Thursday, Jan 19, 2023, 6.30-8pm

“The Fentanyl Risk in our Community” – Learn about the risks of Fentanyl, learn strategies to talk to your children, get trained in using Narcan in case of an overdose. In- Person FREE Bilingual Event at Monarch High School in Louisville. Recording will be available after the event.

 

Wednesday, February 22, 2023, 6-7.30pm

“How to Turn Anxiety into your Superpower” – Strategies for Stress, Anxiety and Trauma - Learn the Neuroscience behind stress, anxiety and trauma and learn how to turn them into productive forces in your life. The whole family is encouraged to attend.

 

Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 6-7.30pm

The Brainchemistry of Substances and Healthy Alternatives – How do substances like marijuana or alcohol create a “high” and how can we support our brains with healthy alternatives

Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 6-7.30pm

“Vaping – Addiction for Profit” – Understanding the new addiction to nicotine and how the next big industry is profiting from teens’ addiction. Learn about the Natural Highs Quit Kit that teens created for teens to quit vaping, smoking and addictions to nicotine and THC.

 

Wednesday, May 17, 2023, 6-7.30pm

Current Substance Abuse Trends & Risks for Teens in Boulder County – Learn about “Fake Pills” and the Fentanyl Risk and about the specific High Potency THC/ Marijuana Risks and learn about local resources to support your teen.

 

Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 6-8pm

“The Other Side of Cannabis” – We will watch the Documentary on High THC risks around mental health and addition and discuss afterwards how we can support young people in Boulder County.

 

Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 6-8pm

“Medicating Normal” – Learn about the difference between emotional issues, trauma vs. mental health disorders and what support teens need. We will watch the documentary “Medicating Normal” on the over-prescription epidemic in the US and discuss afterwards how to support our teens around anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.

 

Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 6-7.30pm

“Hooked on Dopamine Shortcuts - Are we all addicted?” – Addictive tendencies in our current world with social media, online shopping, and other Dopamine “shortcuts” – Risks and Strategies for healthy brain development for teens and parents

 

Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 6-7.30pm

“Alcohol – Myths and Reality” – We will show the acclaimed European documentary “Alcohol – The magic potion” and have a discussion afterwards how we can create a healthier culture for our kids.

 

Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 6-7.30pm

“The most deadly drug - Sugar” – Understanding how sugar is the “Gateway Drug” in our culture and how we can get creative around healthy alternatives to sugar.

 

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Every Month: Sign up for email notification & ZOOM Link HERE:

"Turn Anxiety into Your Superpower" ONLINE Presentation

“Turn Anxiety into your Superpower”

The Neuroscience of Stress, Anxiety & Trauma

Brain Hacks for Resilience

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Learn more about:

  • The Neuroscience of stress, anxiety, and trauma

  • Strategies to use stress and anxiety as a productive force in your life

  • Resources & tools for people all ages

NATURAL HIGHS 

Membership

for TEENS

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Due to Covid-19 we lost 100% of our funding through the City of Boulder's Youth Opportunities Program that we had been funded through for the last 8 years.We need your support now to continue providing our successful Natural Highs Program to Teens & Adults.

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Please become part of our Natural Highs Community of Supporters.

We started a PATREON Page that allows you to choose the right level of Natural Highs Membership for you and your family.

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Choose the right level of Natural Highs Community Membership for yourself and your family:

- for $5 you can Sponsor a Monthly AcuDetox Treatment for a TEEN

- for $10 you can support Natural Highs Programs for Teens

- for $25 you can Sponsor the full Natural Highs Membership for a TEEN

- for $100 you can co-sponsor sober Natural Highs events for TEENS

If you are looking for ongoing support and help structuring your day with online materials, like worksheets, exercises, journal prompts, resources, and opportunities for online live meetings during the Corona Pandemic, please sign up here for being part of the Natural Highs SUMMER. FREE for all TEENS & Adults during the Corona Pandemic.

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Sign up here for the Natural Highs Emails:

Worried About Your Child’s Substance Use?

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in higher rates of substance use among our children. What if there were proven skills that empowered you to impact your child’s use? What if that method also helped repair relationships, improved communication, and helped you feel more relaxed?

 

Join the growing number of parents who have found success through C.R.A.F.T. (Community Reinforcement and Family Training), an evidence-based, non-confrontational technique with a 70% success rate for improving family relationships and communication and  reducing use or getting the individual into treatment of any type (including counseling).

 

Outcomes:

  • Understanding substance use motivations and deterrents

  • Improved connection & communication

  • Improved self-care

  • Empowerment

  • Community with other concerned parents

  • Confidence to actively influence your child

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Groups meet via Zoom - 1x/week for 11 weeks -  

Noon and evening classes

 

Cost: FREE

(Program funded by a grant from the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health & in partnership with  Mental Health Partners of Boulder)

 

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Spaces Limited & Classes Fill Quickly!

Register online at: www.reachoutforchange.com

Or call for more information: 781-908-4488

 

 

 

Facilitators:

Trina Faatz, MA, BA, Peer Recovery Coach,

Boulder County Substance Use Advisory Group Facilitator,

Founder: Youth in Recovery,

Parent of child in recovery

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Laura Bressler, MBA, BA, Registered Psychotherapist,

Brainspotting Therapist, Certified Parent Coach, CAT, ADS,

Parent of child in recovery

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Trina Faatz                      Laura Bressler

Parent Coaching

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Laura Bressler is a mom of a young adult in recovery. After struggling for many years, with numerous treatment approaches, her son found long-term recovery, and is now pursuing a healthy and fulfilling life. Throughout their harrowing family ordeal, Laura and her husband learned what they could (and couldn’t) do as parents to positively impact their son's recovery. Becoming passionate about helping other families, Laura became a Registered Psychotherapist (now called unlicensed psychotherapist in Colorado), a Certified Parent Coach specializing in working with families struggling with substance abuse and is completing her internship for a Master's in Addiction Studies, to become a Licensed Addiction Counselor. She is a Brainspotting Trauma Therapist and Acudetox Specialist and serves as a member of the Natural Highs’ team. She also is trained in the evidence-based, and highly effective Community Resource and Family Treatment program (C.R.A.F.T.) and works with parents in groups and individually on how to have an impact on their child’s substance use, repair family connections, and improve their own ability to find peace.

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Laura offers telehealth and in-person services to parents.

FREE EXPERT Series on High THC Cannabis

& Substance Abuse in the Teenage Brain

www.johnnysambassadors.org

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Resource Page on Marijuana

Current Data, Risks, How to get involved:

https://www.optoutboulder.com/

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#2 - Avani Dilger: Substance Use, Addiction & Healthy Alternatives to Drugs & Alcohol

Parenting Well Podcast

Nov 24, 2019 • 43:54

I'm Dr. Shelly Mahon, your host, and today’s WELL source is Avani Dilger, MEd, MA, LPC, CACIII.  Avani is the founder and executive director of Natural Highs: Healthy Alternatives to Drug & Alcohol Use. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Addiction Counselor, a Somatic Psychotherapist, and a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). She specializes in substance abuse treatment with adults, teens-at-risk, and their families.In today’s show, Avani shares her expertise around substance use, addiction, brain science and healthy alternatives for youth. Specifically, we will discuss:Alternative forms of treatment for substance use and addiction, why some people become addicted to substances and others do not. Brain science, Trauma and its relationship with addiction treatments for symptoms of trauma that can lead to addiction. The Icelandic Model & Maintaining a relationship with your kids.

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T.V. Show on high THC risks  mental health fallout

Marijuana Madness Part I with Avani Dilger

26 Oct 2017 · Beyond Risk and Back
 
Marijuana has gone from being the “Devil’s Weed” to “Harmless” but what is the truth? Is there propaganda on both sides? Is it REALLY addictive? Is it REALLY medicine? Is marijuana harmless? Host Aaron Huey of Fire Mountain Residential Treatment Center and Avani Dilger approach it from the middle to try to discover the truth.
IN THIS HEARTWARMING CONVERSATION AVANI DILGER, FOUNDER OF NATURAL HIGHS TALKS ABOUT THE WORK SHE'S DOING TO CULTIVATE HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Marijuana Information Resource Center:

https://learnaboutsam.org/resource/

Natural Highs Resources

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  • Milkman, Harvey: Iceland Succeeds at Reversing Teenage Substance Abuse - The U.S. Should Follow Suit, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harvey-b-milkman-phd/iceland-succeeds-at-rever_b_9892758.html

  • Young, Emma (2017) Iceland knows how to stop teen substance abuse but the rest of the world isn’t listening. https://mosaicscience.com/story/iceland-prevent-teen-substance-abuse

  • Cass, Hyla; Holford, Patrick (2002): Natural Highs. Supplements, Nutrition, and Mind-Body Techniques. New York: Penguin Putnam

  • Neufeld, Gordon & Mate, Gabor (2006). Hold on to your kids. Why parents need to matter more than peers. New York: Ballantine Books.

  • Milkman, Harvey & Sunderwirth, Stanley (2010). Craving for Ecstasy and Natural Highs. Los, Angeles, CA: Sage

  • Siegel, Daniel (2013). Brainstorm. The power and purpose of the teenage brain. New York, NY: Tarcher/Penguin

  • Mate, Gabor (2010). In the realm of hungry ghosts. Close encounters with addiction. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

  • DesMaisons, Kathleen (1998): Potatoes, Not Prozac. A Natural Seven-Step Dietary Plan to control your cravings … NewYork: Simon and Schuster

  • Wong, James (2009). Grow your Own Drugs. Easy recipes for natural remedies and beauty fixes. Pleasantville, NY: Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

  • Info on Yerba Mate: www.guayaki.com

  • Levine, Madeline (2006). The Price of Privilege. How parental pressure and material advantage are creating a generation of disconnected and unhappy kids. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

  • Walters, Scott et.al. (2007). Motivating offenders to change. A guide for probation and parole. National Institute of Corrections. FREE at:  http://static.nicic.gov/Library/022253.pdf

  •  Miller, William & Rollnik, Steven (2012). Motivational Interviewing. Preparing people for change. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

  • Bradley, Michael (2002). Yes, your teen is crazy. Loving your kid without losing your mind. Gig Harbor: Harbor Press.

  • Payne, Kim John (2009). Simplicity Parenting. Using the Extraordinary power of less to raise calmer, happier, and more secure kids. New York: Ballantine Books.

  • Sells, Scott (2001). Parenting your out-of-control teenager. 7 steps to reestablish authority and reclaim love. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Griffin.

  • http://easyread.drugabuse.gov/

  • Avani G. Dilger  (303) 859-5778

  • avani@naropa.edu                           

  • Facebook: “Natural Highs Community”

Natural Highs Favorite TED Talks

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