Parents inherently want the best for their children. They hope their kids make smart choices, surround themselves with positive influences, and avoid the pitfalls that can come with adolescence. But in a world where peer pressure, experimentation, and risky behaviors are all too common, guiding them toward the right path isn’t always easy.
That’s where PreventEd comes in. The organization offers education, intervention, and support for teens and families navigating substance use concerns. with Through various campaigns and programs, PreventEd provides early intervention that not only addresses potential problems but helps prevent them from growing into something larger.
This year marks 60 years of service for PreventEd, which is committed to preventing and reducing the harms of alcohol and drug use. Guided by a passion for saving lives, PreventEd continues to make a lasting impact.
The Talk About It and the In the Weeds campaigns are just two examples of how PreventEd is making a difference. “Both campaigns are designed to educate adults on how to have meaningful conversations with young people, as well as to support peer-to-peer discussions among young adults,” says PreventEd executive director Jenny Armbruster.
The importance of early intervention with GuidEd
When most people hear the word “intervention,” they picture a dramatic movie scene—family and friends gathered in a tense circle, reading heartfelt letters while the person in crisis sits in shock. But PreventEd and its programs are designed to be the exact opposite. These programs are not about shame or confrontation; they’re about education, empowerment, and support.
When a teen starts experimenting with substances—whether alcohol, vaping, or other drugs—it’s easy to brush it off as a phase. Research shows that early intervention is key, however, in preventing long-term substance use issues. The GuidEd program, part of PreventEd, is designed to educate teens and families about the realities of substance use while equipping them with the skills to make better choices.
“GuidEd is our early intervention program for adolescents ages 12-19. And we’re really focusing on those adolescents who don’t meet the criteria for treatment. They don’t need that, but they need something,” explains GuidEd associate director Presley Menendez. “They fall in this gray area of, What do we do? We know early intervention is key to help identify some of the underlying risk factors for adolescents, such as peer pressure and family concerns. We want to make sure we’re catching those and supporting them early on.”
What sets GuidEd apart?
Unlike traditional disciplinary measures, GuidEd takes a holistic, family-focused approach. The program includes:
- Teen Education Sessions: Engaging research-based lessons that help teens understand the physical, emotional, and social impacts of substance use.
- Parental Support: Parents provide insights about how to communicate effectively, set boundaries, and support their children while holding them accountable.
- Expert-Led Discussions: Professionals provide real-life strategies to help families navigate these challenges together.
- Judgment-Free Space: Teens and parents alike feel heard and supported, rather than criticized.
The results: Teens who are better informed, more confident about making smart decisions, and families who feel stronger and more connected.
“In the GuidEd program, we’re able to do a completely free assessment in the beginning, and we’re able to determine what level of use they’re at,” says Menendez. “We’re able to decide which of our seven workshops would be best for them. And within the workshops, we have different topics.”
Workshops include:
- Alcohol
- Risk of substance use disorders (a.k.a. addiction)
- Drugs 101 (which provides information about vaping and e-cigarettes)
- Cannabis
- Positive outlets
- Decision-making
- Nicotine
A Mother’s Perspective: How GuidEd helped my son
For many parents, the journey of discovering their child is experimenting with substances is a difficult and emotional one. Joy, a mother of four teenagers, shared her experience with GuidEd and how it changed her family for the better.
“As a school counselor, I already knew about PreventEd’s programs,” says Joy. “When my son started experimenting with vaping, I was concerned—especially because of our family history with addiction. I wanted to send him a clear message: This is serious—even ‘dabbling’ can have long-term consequences. So I signed him up for GuidEd.”
Joy says he was resistant at first, and certain privileges at home were tied to completing the program. What surprised her, however, was how open he became to learning. He wasn’t just sitting through the sessions; he was actually absorbing the information. What happened next was a big surprise to Joy and her family. “He stopped hanging out with certain friends. I never told him to cut ties, but after completing the program, he made the decision on his own,” Joy recalls. “He realized that their influence wasn’t good for him. At home, he also became more communicative and open with us, which was an unexpected and welcome change.
“Even though I teach parenting classes and work with teenagers every day, when it’s your own child, everything feels different,” Joy adds. “The GuidEd program reminded me of something critical: Teenagers aren’t trying to drive us crazy; they need us to support them while holding them accountable. I left my first session with a whole new perspective. That night, I hugged my son and told him how proud I was of him for going. That simple moment changed the way I approached parenting moving forward.”
Joy’s advice to other parents: Take early experimentation seriously. “At the first sign that my child was experimenting, I took action,” Joy says. “I didn’t want to wait until it became a bigger problem. Parents often think, It’s just what kids do, but I strongly believe that early intervention is what makes the difference. Attending the parent sessions also reminded me that I wasn’t alone, and my child is still a good kid who just needed guidance.”
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of PreventEd. If you’re concerned about your teenager’s choices, then don’t wait—learn more about PreventEd and GuidEd at prevented.org.
