“Having two boys age (13 and 14) your program really opened a lot of opportunities for us to talk to our kids about drugs and it made them see the reality of what could happen. They both said that drug abuse is very real at their school, but until the Reality Tour they never talked to us about it.! Thank you again for everything that you do.”
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Testimonials
The following is an exact copy of what a student who attended a recent Reality Tour in Westmoreland County wrote about her experience:
The Reality Tour
This tour was everything I didn’t expect it to be; it was much more. Before I went to see the tour, I had it set in my mind that this wouldn’t help me realize anything. But I admit I was wrong and I’m glad because this tour has changed my mind about drug use completely. I always thought smoking weed wasn’t a big deal but it really is. It’s one of the starting points that lead to other drug use. After experiencing this tour I’ve changed my mind about marijuana and I plan on staying clean. I think this program is very helpful and I think all students in every school should experience this tour. In school they tell you that doing drugs and drinking is bad for you but you never really get to see the outcome or the reality of it all. So to me this tour was a really big eye opener and I’m happy I had a chance to experience it. Anyone who asks me about it, I would highly recommend it because after you see this tour you don’t even know what to say.
"This is the type of Innovation we need to have in Prevention. For too many years we have been so focused on Evidence Based Programs we lost the creativity we had in the field of Prevention. The Reality Tour brings home such a strong message and allows a family to see the reality of addiction. Congratulations to Norma and all who deliver the Reality Tour on being recognized by the SAMHSA National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP).”
“For the past 5 years, the Reality Tour substance abuse prevention program for parents and children has impacted our community. The program has received overwhelming acceptance and patronage from the general pubic, and more recently Butler schools have dedicated a grade level to the experience. In addition, the Reality Tour's monthly evening presentation in our community provides a specific segment for law enforcement. This is an opportunity to improve communication and also disseminate current drug trend information. Our courts mandate juvenile probation youth to attend the program with their parents and it has proven to be a valuable experience for this target population as well as the general public.”
“The Reality Tour is the only parent & child educational program of its kind and I am pleased that members of our Drug Task Force provide the law enforcement component at the request of CANDLE, Inc. for the monthly program in Butler County.”
“In my fifteen years as an educator, I’ve not seen a program as powerful as this. You will not find a better way to spend an evening with your child that will make such a lasting impression. I think every middle school student should attend with his/her parents.”
“I continually felt that we were working hard to educate students, but were failing to educate parents. For the 1st time, our partnership with the Reality Tour enables us to begin educating parents and open the dialogue between parent and child. As a school administrator, I will continue to persuade families to participate. As a parent, once my children are of age, we will be attending the Tour together.”
“What attracted us to the program was the flexibility it offered to us. Since it takes place in the evening, it doesn’t take away from the academic time during the school day. The Reality Tour is different than the programs that schools offer to students. The experience includes parents/guardians and that leads to opening discussion in the family concerning drug and alcohol issues. We have had some great feedback from many of our parents on the impact of the Reality Tour after they have attended it. Many parents have been very impressed with it. Our students indicate that the Reality Tour has had a significant impact on them and on their decisions to not use illegal drugs and alcohol. We hope to be able to have a long partnership with the Reality Tour.”
