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New Daytop Prep Combats Latest Trends in Teen Substance Abuse: Heroin, Prescription Drugs Top List
New Daytop Prep Combats Latest Trends in Teen Substance Abuse: Heroin, Prescription Drugs Top List
MENDHAM, N.J., May 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- State and local leaders
today gathered at Daytop-New Jersey, the first school of its kind in the U.S.
to address epidemic drug and alcohol use by suburban teens, to celebrate the
opening of the new Rev. Joseph H. Hennen Preparatory School. Congressman
Rodney Frelinghuysen, NJ Deputy Commissioner of Health James W. Smith and
Morris County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen C. Serafino joined in the
dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The school is a dream come true for Daytop-NJ's founder, and the new
school's namesake, Rev. Joseph H. Hennen, who opened the facility in a former
school on the 21-acre campus of the Sisters of St. John Baptist in 1992.
"Daytop Preparatory School is the first, and only, licensed private school
for students with educational disabilities inNew Jersey that also is
committed to a long-term substance abuse treatment," said Rev. Joseph H.
Hennen. "The first signs of trouble in substance-abusing kids most often are
exhibited at school, when their grades begin to drop and they break rules that
lead to disciplinary action. When we opened Daytop-NJ in 1992, typical drug
and alcohol treatment programs included just two hours of instruction each
day, hardly enough to allow these kids to stay on track with their secondary
education."
In 2001, Daytop received a provisional license from theState of New
Jersey to operate a private school for students with educational disabilities
and work began to raise funds and design a school building that would meet
State standards.
"This new facility, made possible by monetary and in-kind donations of
materials, expertise and labor by a large group of dedicated supporters,
allows us to expand our residential program and introduce a Day School program
to address the needs of all our kids as we get them back on a path to
success," Rev. Hennen said.
Working closely with the New Jersey Department of Education, Daytop NJ is
now the nation's first and only fully-licensed co-educational school for
students in need of treatment for substance abuse, providing a complete
secondary academic program for 70 residential and, beginning this fall, 60 day
students recovering from substance abuse. Daytop's academic day consists of
five hours of formal education integrated with behavior management, support
groups and consequential thinking for classified and non-classified youth.
The $8.5 million, 35,140 sq. ft. facility is a marked improvement over the
cramped quarters of the old school and provides light and airy classrooms,
office and meeting space, as well as living quarters for Daytop graduates who
need support as they move out into the world.
The new Day School program will begin in September applying the Daytop
model of integrating structured therapeutic techniques within the full school
day for students who are classified emotionally and/or behaviorally disabled.
Local Day School students will share teachers and counselors but will be
separated from the residential population as the staff works to meet their
unique needs for prevention and intervention.
Currently, Daytop-NJ operates four drug treatment centers and each year
serves more than 350 clients, aged 13 to 19 years, from 21 counties inNew
Jersey in both residential and outpatient settings.Mendham is the only
residential facility inNew Jersey that treats substance-abusing young women
as well as men.
SIDEBAR: ONE TEEN'S STORY
"Veronica V," an 18 year-oldBrick, NJ resident is a bright, attractive
and very articulate young woman, especially when it comes to describing the
route that led her to Daytop. She'll tell you quite bluntly that she started
drinking and smoking pot with friends, her grades began to drop and soon she
was kicked out of her private school. Forced to enroll in the local public
high school, she continued partying with friends and it continued to take its
toll. Her grades were failing, she was getting into more trouble and, finally,
a bout with the law led her family to seek help from the Daytop staff.
Today, Veronica feels that Daytop has given her a second chance at life.
She's back on the right path, keeping her grades up and plans on graduating
high school from Daytop in June. Her diploma will have her local high school
on it, so there's no stigma attached. She brightens up and smiles broadly
when she discusses her plans for the future. She's currently applying to
colleges and later plans on joining the Peace Corps where she would like to be
a nurse. She has it all mapped out, another step toward recovery and hope for
the future.
About Daytop New Jersey
Daytop New Jersey opened its doors in 1992 offering a program tailored
specifically to the needs of adolescents with substance abuse and resulting
behavioral problems. Currently, Daytop operates four drug treatment centers
and serves more than 350 clients, aged 13 to 19 years, each year from 21
counties inNew Jersey in both residential and outpatient settings.Mendham is
the only residential facility inNew Jersey that treats substance-abusing
young women as well as men.
SOURCE Daytop
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
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