‘Opening Lines,’ a workshop scheduled for April 24 in West Hartford, will be led by Conard students and is intended to help parents talk with teens about substance use.

Students involved in Lead by Example include (from left): Aquins Varghese – Conard, Egyptia Daniels – Hall, Kyle Exum – Hall, Zach Mega – Conard, Manal Tanveer – Conard. Submitted photo

By Ronni Newton

Students at West Hartford’s Conard and Hall high schools are hoping that their campaign – Lead by Example – can do just what the name indicates and encourage their peers to make positive decisions about substance use.

An integral part of the campaign is encouraging communication between parents and teens. On Friday, April 24, a group of Lead by Example ambassadors will hold “Opening Lines,” a workshop for parents of middle schoolers, with a focus on effective ways to have a conversation about substance use.

“Earlier this year, the Lead by Example Ambassadors conducted a survey and found that 80 percent of students said that it’s important to be able to talk to their parents about drugs and alcohol. Parents may think their teens won’t listen, or that it’s uncomfortable to talk about substance use, but the work the LBE group has been doing this year really shows that parents play a major role in preventing teens from using drugs and alcohol,” said Dan Jordan of the Institute for Community Research, one of the organizations supporting the campaign.

Conard students will lead the April 24 workshop, which will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at Sedgwick Middle School. They will discuss the results of the peer research they conducted about communication between teens and parents. A panel discussion that includes students, parents of high schoolers, and school staff will also provide perspectives on communication about substance use.

Refreshments will be provided.

Lead by Example is a student-led substance abuse prevention campaign run by students from Conard and Hall high schools. The group works together to promote positive decision-making among youth and conducts primary research among students to better understand how peer norms influence teen behavior. Lead by Example students have developed prevention messages, videos, merchandise, and organized events based on the research they conduct. The campaign is funded by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and is supported by the West Hartford Substance Abuse Prevention Commission and the Institute for Community Research.

“Opening Lines” is being presented as part of The Bridge Family Center’s “Tune-In To Life” week.

To learn more about the Lead by Example campaign visit www.facebook.com/leadbyexampleweha and www.lbecampaign.org. Email [email protected] for more information.

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