Joyful children running together in a park, symbolizing health, vitality, and community in youth services.

Youth Services

Did you know that 9 in 10 Americans with a substance use disorder started using substances before the age of 18?

This is why preventing early-age substance use, or at least delaying the onset of use, is a principal goal of Adapt’s Prevention & Education Program. Our team partners with local schools, parents and caregivers, youth-serving organizations, and many other agencies to reach youth in as many of their everyday settings as possible. Through education and opportunity, youth develop the skills they need to lead healthy adult lives.

Current Youth Initiatives

We partner with Douglas County schools, group home facilities, and youth-serving organizations to implement evidence-based prevention programs.

Girls Circle

A structured support group for girls and gender-expansive youth from 9-18 years which integrates relational theory, resiliency practices, and skills training.

The Council for Boys and Young Men

A strengths-based group approach to promote boys’ and young men’s safe and healthy passage through pre-teen and adolescent years.

Unity Circle

A structured support group model for people of all genders that addresses critical needs and strengths while honoring and celebrating the unique lived experiences of circle participants.

Youth to Youth

A youth empowerment program where students take part in community action, including community awareness campaigns, presentations, policy change, and media initiatives, to cause change.

CATCH My Breath

A youth vaping prevention program that educates and empowers students to resist their own curiosity, peer pressure, and advertising pressure to experiment with e-cigarettes.

This Is Not About Drugs (TINAD)

A youth-focused educational program that addresses the opioid public health crisis, raising awareness on substance misuse, with a special emphasis on prescription opioids.

Interested in an Initiative?

Reach out to prevention@adaptoregon.org to learn more!

Current Youth Events

FARA Fun Nights

Join us on Wednesday nights from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Phoenix Charter School for dinner and rotating activities such as video game tournaments, craft nights, movie nights, basketball, and much more. Stay until the end for a chance to win a weekly gift card drawing! Ages 12-17 welcome.

Art of Prevention

The Art of Prevention is an annual youth art contest designed to explore themes of substance misuse prevention, suicide prevention, problem gambling prevention, and resilience through creative expressions.

Meet our 2024 Contest Winners!

Substance Misuse 1st
Middle School Age Division
Substance Misuse Prevention Category
1st Place: Amira Mathis, 7th Grade, "Don't Smoke"

1st Place: Amira Mathis, 7th Grade, “Don’t Smoke”

Substance Misuse 2nd
Middle School Age Division
Substance Misuse Prevention Category
2nd Place: Nymara Gideon, 8th Grade, “Stained Glass”

2nd Place: Nymara Gideon, 8th Grade, “Stained Glass”

Substance Misuse 3rd
Middle School Age Division
Substance Misuse Prevention Category
3rd Place: Kierynn Smith, 8th Grade, “Emy”

3rd Place: Kierynn Smith, 8th Grade, “Emy”

Suicide/Self-Harm 1st
Middle School Age Division
Suicide/Self-Harm Prevention Category
1st Place: O’ryah Grimes, 7th Grade, “There is Always a Reason”

1st Place: O’ryah Grimes, 7th Grade, “There is Always a Reason”

Suicide/Self-Harm 2nd
Middle School Age Division
Suicide/Self-Harm Prevention Category
2nd Place: Brenna Myler, 8th Grade, “Never Alone”

2nd Place: Brenna Myler, 8th Grade, “Never Alone”

Suicide/Self-Harm 3rd
Middle School Age Division
Suicide/Self-Harm Prevention Category
3rd Place: Breanne Ball, 6th Grade, “The Talk”

3rd Place: Breanne Ball, 6th Grade, “The Talk”

General Prevention/Resilience 1st
Middle School Age Division
General Prevention/Resilience Category
1st Place: Vivian Pimentel, 8th Grade, “The Way You Made Me Feel”

1st Place: Vivian Pimentel, 8th Grade, “The Way You Made Me Feel”

General Prevention/Resilience 2nd
Middle School Age Division
General Prevention/Resilience Category
2nd Place: Elaina Cumming, 7th Grade, “You’re Not Alone”

2nd Place: Elaina Cumming, 7th Grade, “You’re Not Alone”

General Prevention/Resilience 3rd
Middle School Age Division
General Prevention/Resilience Category
3rd Place: Isabella Leiby, 7th Grade, “Bully”

3rd Place: Isabella Leiby, 7th Grade, “Bully”

Substance Misuse 1st
High School Age Division
Substance Misuse Prevention Category
McKenna Yancy, 9th Grade, “New Beginnings”

1st Place: McKenna Yancy, 9th Grade, “New Beginnings”

Substance Misuse 2nd
High School Age Division
Substance Misuse Prevention Category
2nd Place: Luke Wilson, 10th Grade, “Drugs and Rains Face”

2nd Place: Luke Wilson, 10th Grade, “Drugs and Rains Face”

Substance Misuse 3rd
High School Age Division
Substance Misuse Prevention Category
3rd Place: Caydence McCurry, 11th Grade, “Choices”

3rd Place: Caydence McCurry, 11th Grade, “Choices”

Suicide/Self-Harm 1st
High School Age Division
Suicide/Self-Harm Prevention Category
1st Place: Jaiden Adams, 10th Grade, “Reigning Choices”

1st Place: Jaiden Adams, 10th Grade, “Reigning Choices”

Suicide/Self-Harm 2nd
High School Age Division
Suicide/Self-Harm Prevention Category
2nd Place: Ashton Edwards, 9th Grade, “Heal Before It Hurts”

2nd Place: Ashton Edwards, 9th Grade, “Heal Before It Hurts”

Suicide/Self-Harm 3rd
High School Age Division
Suicide/Self-Harm Prevention Category
3rd Place: Jack Bechtel, 11th Grade, “Can You See Me?”

3rd Place: Jack Bechtel, 11th Grade, “Can You See Me?”

Problem Gambling/Gaming 1st
High School Age Division
Problem Gambling/Gaming Prevention Category
1st Place: Jaiden Adams, 10th Grade, “What Are The Odds?”

1st Place: Jaiden Adams, 10th Grade, “What Are The Odds?”

Problem Gambling/Gaming 2nd
High School Age Division
Problem Gambling/Gaming Prevention Category
2nd Place: Ashton Edwards, 9th Grade, “Isolated”

2nd Place: Ashton Edwards, 9th Grade, “Isolated”

General Prevention/Resilience 1st
High School Age Division
General Prevention/Resilience Category
1st Place: Felicity Clayton, 11th Grade, “He Said He Was Sorry”

1st Place: Felicity Clayton, 11th Grade, “He Said He Was Sorry”

General Prevention/Resilience 2nd
High School Age Division
General Prevention/Resilience Category
2nd Place: Jayde Hollingsworth, 9th Grade, “Focus More on Reality Then Screens”

2nd Place: Jayde Hollingsworth, 9th Grade, “Focus More on Reality Then Screens”

General Prevention/Resilience 3rd
High School Age Division
General Prevention/Resilience Category
3rd Place: Amanda Colerick, 11th Grade, “How Do We Go On?”

3rd Place: Amanda Colerick, 11th Grade, “How Do We Go On?”

People’s Choice
Overall People’s Choice Award
McKenna Yancy, 9th Grade, “New Beginnings”

McKenna Yancy, 9th Grade, “New Beginnings”

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Helpful Resources

Substance Use Prevention Resources for Youth and College Students

SAMHSA offers free, downloadable publications and tip sheets, as well as mobile apps for youth, teens, and young adults on topics such as substance misuse, common mental health conditions, and coping with disasters and other traumatic events.

Just Think Twice

Teen-focused drug education from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

Teen2Teen YouthLine

A free and confidential teen-to-teen crisis support and help line. Teens are available to help daily from 4-10pm PST (adults are available by phone at all other times). Call 877-968-8491 or text ‘teen2teen’ to 839863.

988 Youth Lifeline

A National Lifeline that provides 24/7, free and confidential support for youth in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources.