TRUE

Teens Recognizing and Understanding Each Other

TRUE is a group organized and led by teens, with adult support, where teens actively create solutions to teen substance abuse. TRUE is made possible through a partnership with Spectrum, a division of HelpSource. Through TRUE, YEP teens aim to prevent substance abuse by conducting educational games for peers in high school and middle school classrooms and for younger youth through neighborhood centers in the summer.

TRUE was launched in Ann Arbor in 1999, in collaboration with Spectrum Prevention Services. At that time, it was organized by a YEP Action Team formed at the 1999 Youth Adult Partnership Summit in response to recommendations put forth by YEP’s first Leadership Team to create solutions to teen substance abuse that involve teens directly in creating and implementing the solutions. View Summit & 1999 Recommendations to the Community.

New teen members are welcome! No experience is required. Training and support is provided. All TRUE teens participate in YEP’s Basic Leadership Training and can also take advantage of YEP’s Advanced Leadership Training. Additional technical training is provided by Spectrum staff and volunteers on conducting the educational game developed by TRUE teens that is used in the TRUE presentations. The game, “Spectrum of Fun Challenge” is played like jeopardy with True/False questions in different drug categories that challenge students to make informed decisions while they learn the hard facts. Questions can be adapted to different age groups and kids build a group spirit and feel a sense of accomplishment when they get the right answers.

TRUE is open to any high school teen who is committed to being free of alcohol/tobacco/other drugs and who is interested in being part of the solution to teen substance abuse problems, whatever his or her past experiences with alcohol/tobacco/other drugs are. Documentation of community service hours can be provided.

For more information or to get involved with TRUE: email us at true@youthempowerment.com.

Here are some comments from game participants:

“I really liked the game we played because it was educational and fun!”

“I liked how we were involved in the presentation.”

“I liked best learning the different facts about drugs and alcohol while playing the game.”

“I liked that everything was done in a very good atmosphere. The presenters also explained during the game. I also liked the presenters very much. It was an exciting presentation.”