Dedicated Group Tackling Teen Drug Problem Head-On

A local community group wants to reach out to teens while they are making some of the most important decisions of their lives.

Community Action For Safe Teens (CAST) is a local nonprofit group to reduce drug and alcohol abuse and help teenagers in Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Lyndeborough, Milford, Mont Vernon and Wilton make healthy choices

The group was started in 2004 by Libby Wehrle-Anderson as a community forum to identify teen issues, and is now growing as a grassroots effort to engage high school youth and provide teen leadership opportunities.

CAST co-chair Monica Gallant said that their goal is to change the thought process most teens have that all of their peers are doing drugs or drinking, so they have to as well. They also want to change this mindset in the parents, who figure their teenagers will get into these activities no matter what they do.

Many think of drinking and drug use as a rite of passage for teens.

“Some parents expect it, and it shouldn't be expected,” said Gallant. “Knowledge is power and we need to raise awareness so kids will make healthy choices.”

CAST has hosted additional "youth issues forums," conducted a  "sticker shock" campaign in local retail outlets to educate adults about purchasing alcohol for minors and recently added a much more dramatic tool to their arsenal. Teens have organized “flash mobs” of local teen dancers that perform at games and events to promote positive messages and raise awareness.

One of these flash mobs was just at the Parent Vendor Fair at the Sage School at Bales in Milford on Saturday

Gallant is joined by co-chair Renea Sparks in this effort, as well as teen committee members and multiple youth participants in their activities. Their recent surge in growth has come from becoming a committee of the Boys and Girls Club of Souhegan Valley in January 2012.

Director Susan Taylor said that adding CAST to their programming has been a perfect fit, and the club is a perfect spot to reach out to local youth. Part of CAST’s mission is to create leadership in these young teens, an effort that fits perfectly with the Boys and Girls Club.

“We are nurturing a supportive environment for teens,” said Taylor.

CAST is working on some very big projects for this year, including a Legislative Breakfast to discuss youth issues, role-playing event to handle peer pressure situations involving drugs and even an open mic night to support substance-free choices. The group is working on holding events almost every month in order to continue their mission for healthier teens.

CAST is also working on earning the Drug Free Communities Grant that will give them $125,000 a year for five years to hire a full time staff member and fund events. Taylor said this would certainly strengthen their efforts and take their effectiveness to another level.

They are growing, but are in need of more teen and adult volunteers to help organize and run future efforts. Taylor said that the committee only meets once a month and joining doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment.

Those interested in joining the CAST effort can contact Monica Gallant at mgallant4@aol.com.

Visit castnh.org for more information about Community Action for Safe Teens, and visit svbgc.org for more information about the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley.