The Way Out Recovery officials recently announced they will be partnering with the Hart District for the Comprehensive Alcohol and Drug Reduction and Education (CADRE) program.
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CADRE is a confidential, voluntary drug testing program that parents and students can choose to sign up for together, according to Bob Sharits, program director at The Way Out Recovery.
“I think it’s outstanding,” Sharits said of the Hart District’s decision to award The Way Out Recovery the CADRE contract this year. “Anything that we can offer to Santa Clarita and the Hart District as a means to prevent drug use, educate the community and treat drug use, we’re happy to do that.”
Related: Drug Overdoses Now Leading Cause Of Death For Americans Under Age 50, The Way Out Recovery Official Responds
The program is completely free for participants, and allows The Way Out Recovery officials to randomly select a group of students from the list at each assigned school for drug testing on certain dates.
“We go in and test approximately 1,000 — maybe 1,200 — students a year,” Sharits explained. “Then anyone that comes up positive, we contact the parents and we schedule a confidential counseling session.”
CADRE not only helps open up a discussion between parents and their children about why it’s important to be drug-free, it also gives students what Sharits called a tool to help them say “no” in the face of peer pressure.
“Peer pressure can be really, really strong and it’s hard for them to say no to their friends,” Sharits said. “But now all they have to say is, ‘I can’t — I get drug tested.’ So for the student it offers them one more tool and one more reason to say no, and for the parents it gives them peace of mind.”
While Sharits noted there isn’t currently a way to track the program’s effectiveness, he believes the fact that participating students rarely test positive demonstrates that the program works.
“That in itself says that the students that are signed up have a much greater chance of remaining abstinent while they’re signed up for the program,” Sharits said.
In Santa Clarita, drug issues are a major concern for many. The mission of the Santa Clarita rehab The Way Out Recovery is to provide high quality, effective alcohol and drug treatment. The drug rehab’s goal is to assist adolescents, adults and their loved ones in becoming happily and usefully whole, free from drug addiction. Those seeking Santa Clarita drug treatment or a teen drug rehab can rest assured that The Way Out Recovery’s philosophy is to teach life-long coping skills and strategies to assist in improving quality of life and living happily and meaningfully without the need of destructive behaviors.
28118 Bouquet Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
(661) 296-4444