Some 40 percent of teenagers who started drinking at age 13 or younger developed alcohol dependence later in life, experts say.

As a parent, there are steps you can take to help keep your teenager from becoming a statistic due to alcohol, drugs or violence.

The Athens-Limestone County Family Resource Center has teamed up with Bradford Health Services’ Decatur Regional Office to offer a much-needed program to at-risk teens in Limestone County.

The Fundamentals Program, aimed at preventing drug and alcohol use and violence among teens, will debut today at the Family Resource Center.

Fundamentals is based on the latest research about resiliency, risk and protective factors, and developmental assets – factors that research has identified as critical for young people’s successful growth and development. The program will work to empower at-risk teens ages 12-18 with the confidence, life skills and attitude they need to make better decisions, refuse drugs and alcohol, and handle conflict in nonviolent ways. Any Limestone County teen in need of proactive support, positive role models and high expectations will benefit and is encouraged to participate. Sessions will be based on the Mendez Foundation’s “Too Good for Drugs and Violence” Curriculum, a nationally recognized, science-based, award-winning curriculum proven effective in keeping teens safe and drug free. The program is not intended for teens in need of substance-dependency treatment.

The goal of the Fundamentals Program is to reduce risk and build protective factors related to drug and alcohol use and violence in teenagers. The program will address the following risk and protective factors:

1.) Social and emotional competency skills;

2.) Attitudes toward drug and alcohol use and violence;

3.) Perceived norms regarding drug use;

4.) Perception of harm and risk regarding drug use and violence, and;

5.) Attachment to positive caring adults and supportive communities.

Teens participating in this program will walk away with skills in goal setting, decision making, relationship building, identifying and managing emotions, and communicating effectively, gained by exploring topics such as assertiveness, conflict resolution, respect for self and others, addiction, staying safe and drug free, maximizing life and minimizing stress.

Teens ages 12-18 may enroll in the program through self-referral, school referral, and referral from the court system. The program will consist of 12, two-hour sessions limited to a maximum of 15 teens.

Cost of the program is $60 and can be paid on a weekly basis ($5 per week). No teen will be turned away because of an inability to pay.

Fundamentals will be facilitated by Suzanne Hillin, adolescent/adult counselor with Bradford Health Services, who brings more than five years of experience working with adolescents with emotional, behavioral and substance-abuse issues. Hillin earned master’s degrees in experimental psychology and mental health counseling from Western Kentucky University, and is currently a resident of Limestone County.