This PRIME For Life Under 21 course is an approved Alcohol and Drug Information School (ADIS) and meets all standards established by the State of Alaska.

The ADIS PRIME For Life course receives and accepts referrals from District Court, Traffic Court, Anchorage Youth Court, the Division of Motor Vehicles, and Juvenile Probation.

PRIME FOR LIFE UNDER 21
There are often few or no immediate consequences when adolescents participate in illegal or high-risk behaviors while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  Subsequently, their substance abuse and/or high-risk behavior continue to progress, sometimes with tragic consequences.  PRIME for Life Under 21 intervenes during the experimental stage of substance abuse when adolescents are yet to develop a serious alcohol or drug problem and can be positively influenced by an age appropiate introduction to and review of the possiable negative consequences of their actions.  The Prime for Life Under 21 is designed for youth with high-risk behavior between the ages of 13 and 20.

What is PRIME for Life Under 21?
Everybody makes choices. Often choices are made without all the information needed to make an informed decision. The same is true of today's youth. Many are making decisions about drugs and alcohol without understanding everything involved in that choice.

This program is a researched-based, risk-reduction program designed to give middle school to college students' information regarding drug and alcohol so they can protect the things that are important to them.

Approach
The program's non-judgmental approach and persuasion-based teaching processes reduce resistance to the life-saving information presented in the program and increase students' openness to change.

Topics

ADIS PRIME for Life Under 21 consists of two components:

Assessment
Clients are initially assessed for appropriateness for the program. Volunteers of America, Alaska, assess clients through verbal data collection using DSM-IV and ASAM criteria for Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse. If clients are appropriate for the program, they are recommended to participate in the program.

Classroom
The course consists of 3 classes of 4 hours each day. During this time the clients will explore previously stated areas.  They will learn the dangers of high-risk behavior and what they can do to protect themselves in the future.

Component Cost
The cost of the program is as follows:
Assessment: $50.00
Course cost: $120.00 (includes certificate of completion).

For additional information, please contact:

Prevention and Intervention Services Director
Patricia Cochran

1675 C Street, Ste. 201
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Tel: (907) 279-9646
Fax: (907) 276-5489