Hanley Foundation's Some Days We Thrive; Others We Survive - Dr. DeBenedittis

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photo courtesy of Hanley Foundation

Dr. Peter DeBenedittis

HANLEY FOUNDATION LAUNCHES FREE VIRTUAL PARENTING SERIES

Leader in substance misuse prevention programming presents authors, experts in interactive format

(West Palm Beach, Fla.) Boca Raton residents Michelle and John Makris are marking a tragic one-year anniversary this month by encouraging parents of all ages to educate themselves on the signs of substance use disorders. A board member of Hanley Foundation, John Makris and his wife Michelle are sharing the story of their son Brice to call attention to a free virtual parenting series presented by Hanley Foundation starting on March 25. Open to the public, the series is titled “Some Days We Thrive; Others We Survive” and features a variety of authors and parenting experts headlining four online sessions.

“I tell people who call me for advice to look for the signs,” said Michelle Makris. “As parents, we always blame ourselves when something happens to our children. I have learned that Brice was dealing with a terrible disease. I just wish I had known more about it and had been able to see its signs. The free lecture series is a wonderful resource for all parents and offers conversation starters to connect with children of all ages.”

The Makrises lost their youngest son, Brice, in March 2020 to a Fentanyl overdose. At 23-years-old, Brice had recently graduated from Florida State University with a biology degree. An all-around good student, athlete, former camper and camp counselor, and “everyone’s best friend,” Brice was born and raised in Boca Raton and attended Spanish River High School. Michelle says their family is incredibly close, and when Brice began experiencing signs of depression in his senior year at FSU, he reached out to his parents often as he wrapped up his studies and planned to come home.

“We were so focused on his mental health and getting the help we thought he needed for his depression that we never realized he was in a life-or-death struggle with opioids,” said John Makris. “When he did ask for our help for his addiction, he went through a local treatment program and was in a sober home after. Sadly, it just took one time of using drugs laced with Fentanyl for us to lose him just a year ago.”

Designed to offer an exceptional interactive opportunity for education and parenting tips, “Some Days We Thrive; Others We Survive” has been created specifically for parents, guardians, caregivers, grandparents, foster parents, educators and more. Scheduled monthly at 7:30 p.m., on March 25, April 22, May 19 and June 24, the programming will address topics including: how to help preschool to high-school students navigate anxiety and stress; tips and guidelines on raising healthy kids who are free from substance use; drug culture trends in our community and how parents can spot the signs; and the importance of challenging the ways kids see drugs and alcohol portrayed in the media.

“Hanley Foundation is all about family, and family time is time well spent,” said Jan Cairnes, Hanley Foundation CEO. “We know that family time, education and connection are keys to preventing substance misuse. We are offering this parenting series to increase awareness and hopefully change minds around the stigma of addiction. In the end, our goal is really to save lives. While the series is hosted virtually due to the pandemic, we also know that the pandemic is why so many families are feeling unprecedented strain and stress, and substance use is on a dramatic rise. We hope this series will be both beneficial and educational.”

Hanley Foundation combats substance use disorders within our communities by raising awareness and providing prevention education programming in schools and communities throughout Florida. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to working alongside community partners to promote healthy lifestyles and positively influence attitudes, norms and values by empowering individuals and families. Through its Lifesaver Scholarship Program, the Foundation also helps supply treatment scholarships to individuals with demonstrated needs in Palm Beach County.

“Before he passed, Brice told us his goal was to save 100 men and women from this insidious disease,” said John Makris. “His goal is now our mission. Together with the resources Hanley Foundation has to offer, we are striving to honor our son and save lives. We hope other parents will join us for this important parenting series.”

To learn more about Hanley Foundation’s parenting series or for more information about substance use disorder prevention programming, please visit hanleyfoundation.org or contact Hanley Foundation’s Chief Program Officer Ryan Wertepny at 561-268-2351.

Some Days We Thrive; Others We Survive:

Editors please note: this Dropbox contains hi-res headshots of the speakers noted below as well as three photos of Michelle and John Makris: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n93zspn42q030mk/AACcqwOTs5gSXKDwsi1wZ2NYa?dl=0

• Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.

o Dr. Michele Borba, Ed. D, author of Thrivers, will address the staggering increase in anxiety, stress and emptiness children experience from preschool to high school. She explains why the old markers of accomplishments (grades and test scores) are no longer a reliable predictor of success in the 21st century and offers 7 teachable traits that will safeguard our children for the future.

• Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.

o Jessica Lahey, author of The Addiction Inoculation, will speak to how parents and educators can prevent substance use disorders in children through evidence-based strategies and practical tools adults need to understand to support and educate resilient, addiction-resistant children. She will recommend age-appropriate and actionable guidelines, from navigating a child’s risk for addiction to interpreting signs of early use to advice for broaching difficult conversations with children.

• Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.

o Officer Jermaine Galloway, also known as “Tall Cop,” is an expert in various drug and alcohol trends and has specialized in underage drinking and drug enforcement. Officer Galloway’s many years of experience have taught him one thing above all else: “You can’t stop what you don’t know.” He will speak to the ever-evolving drug culture trends in our community and how everyday items that you might not have taken a second look at will take on a whole new meaning once you learn about drug culture.

• Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.

o Dr. DeBenedittis is the developer of the popular evidence-based prevention curriculum, the Alcohol Literacy Challenge (ALC). ALC effectively reduces underage and binge drinking because it systematically challenges the beliefs individuals hold about the effects of alcohol. He explains the importance of media literacy and how media uses advertisements to sell the beliefs associated with their products and not necessarily the products themselves.

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