"When you see students with physical problems come in, a lot of times it’s a manifestation of what’s happening internally. These programs gets to the root as opposed to just dealing with all the symptoms.
It’s one thing to do brief intervention counseling one-on-one, but it’s another thing to have Scott come in and set up a system of accountability so kids know exactly what to do.
Here are some of the results;
One student who had stolen a pair of shoes from the local mall went back to the mall and returned the shoes.
Another student confessed to his Uncle that he had been stealing his liquor for many months. The Uncle stated he was proud of his nephew for confessing this and ended up attending an AA meeting with him as a result.
There were many students that told their parents they were repeatedly lying to them about substance use.
Five students returned at the end of the Healthy Habits group to focus on quitting smoking.
Students became more honest with themselves and others.
Scott’s program was the highlight of the school year for me! Thank you again for this very worthwhile program!!!"
Sue Grantis, Public Health School Nurse, Dennis Morris Catholic School, Niagara Region, Ontario
It’s one thing to do brief intervention counseling one-on-one, but it’s another thing to have Scott come in and set up a system of accountability so kids know exactly what to do.
Here are some of the results;
One student who had stolen a pair of shoes from the local mall went back to the mall and returned the shoes.
Another student confessed to his Uncle that he had been stealing his liquor for many months. The Uncle stated he was proud of his nephew for confessing this and ended up attending an AA meeting with him as a result.
There were many students that told their parents they were repeatedly lying to them about substance use.
Five students returned at the end of the Healthy Habits group to focus on quitting smoking.
Students became more honest with themselves and others.
Scott’s program was the highlight of the school year for me! Thank you again for this very worthwhile program!!!"
Sue Grantis, Public Health School Nurse, Dennis Morris Catholic School, Niagara Region, Ontario
"We have lunch together every Monday. Other than the girl from grade 7, all of the kids come and we have some pretty good conversations. Two of them say they haven't had any drugs since our first meeting even though they've had plenty of opportunity. The smoker has cut down by about 8 cigarettes. All of them confessed to their parents. Some pretty good connections have been made... thanks to you."
Angie Stinkowji, Guidance Counselor, Englehart Secondary School, Northern Ontario
Angie Stinkowji, Guidance Counselor, Englehart Secondary School, Northern Ontario
"Two weeks into the program, we ended up with a good kind of a problem. Kids couldn’t count their habit because they weren’t doing it anymore! These kids had tried to quit before, and after only two weeks, one wasn’t using, one wasn’t drinking anything at all so they had nothing to record.
We have kids thanking their mom for dinner or for doing the laundry for the first time ever. Most of these kids are not used to thanking anyone. They just take for granted that everything will be done for them. They’re learning something here that will serve them well their whole lives.
Sometimes I’m really frustrated with whatever is going on in my life and one of my student buddies from the program will call me and ask me what I’m happy about right now? And I really have to change my whole way of thinking, even when I’m in the middle of something really negative. It’s been a real learning experience for me."
Joanne Carter, Transition Place, Meadowlake Saskatchewan, (At-Risk School)
We have kids thanking their mom for dinner or for doing the laundry for the first time ever. Most of these kids are not used to thanking anyone. They just take for granted that everything will be done for them. They’re learning something here that will serve them well their whole lives.
Sometimes I’m really frustrated with whatever is going on in my life and one of my student buddies from the program will call me and ask me what I’m happy about right now? And I really have to change my whole way of thinking, even when I’m in the middle of something really negative. It’s been a real learning experience for me."
Joanne Carter, Transition Place, Meadowlake Saskatchewan, (At-Risk School)
"You saved lives today! After 21 years as an educator, I've seen kids die because of addiction. When we see it happen, we ask ourselves what we could have done to prevent it. Now we have an answer. We have you now"
Rick Christie, Vice Principal, Fenelon Falls Secondary School
Rick Christie, Vice Principal, Fenelon Falls Secondary School
"Hi Scott,
I'm not sure if you remember me, but I was one of the students that took part in your workshop after your presentation at Englehart High School. I just wanted to let you know that you were my inspiration in making the decisions that I did to help me get back on track. You helped me a lot. Thanks a lot for everything once again.
Maureen"
Maureen, Student, Englehart High School, Englehart, Ontario
I'm not sure if you remember me, but I was one of the students that took part in your workshop after your presentation at Englehart High School. I just wanted to let you know that you were my inspiration in making the decisions that I did to help me get back on track. You helped me a lot. Thanks a lot for everything once again.
Maureen"
Maureen, Student, Englehart High School, Englehart, Ontario
"You were so great!
Your raw honesty was just so refreshing. I don't want to say your talk was life changing because that would sound over the top; but the truth is, it was for me. In all my years, I have never encountered anyone who had the degree of addiction problems that you have had to struggle with. To hear you be so honest about your past was just so touching. And I loved what you shared about making amends. I think we all carry anxieties and baggage about things we could have done differently, and your section on making amends, I felt could become a tool - not only in my work in the anxiety clinic, but for me personally.
As a matter of fact, even though I don't have any addiction problems, I was so inspired by what happened to you that I decided to make an amends list for myself. I'm really quite enthusiastic about what you are doing. I would come and hear you again, anytime!"
Jane Marson, Social Worker, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to Program Facilitator Scott Gallagher
Your raw honesty was just so refreshing. I don't want to say your talk was life changing because that would sound over the top; but the truth is, it was for me. In all my years, I have never encountered anyone who had the degree of addiction problems that you have had to struggle with. To hear you be so honest about your past was just so touching. And I loved what you shared about making amends. I think we all carry anxieties and baggage about things we could have done differently, and your section on making amends, I felt could become a tool - not only in my work in the anxiety clinic, but for me personally.
As a matter of fact, even though I don't have any addiction problems, I was so inspired by what happened to you that I decided to make an amends list for myself. I'm really quite enthusiastic about what you are doing. I would come and hear you again, anytime!"
Jane Marson, Social Worker, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to Program Facilitator Scott Gallagher
" We brought Scott in at the very beginning of our school year. There were 12 students who chose to participate in the 4 Week Follow-up component of his programs. Addictions were mainly to marijuana, cigarettes and internet/video games.
After the 4 weeks were finished, the kids in the program wanted to continue it on their own. Within 90 days, every single one of these kids had tapered off to the point that none of them were doing drugs or smoking anymore. One student who was addicted to the internet and video games drastically reduced how much time he spends online.
Each and every student who joined the on-going group meetings had noticeable behaviour changes; for example, higher self esteem, regular attendance, more friends and a much clearer head upon returning to school Monday mornings.
The results we got were so remarkable we asked Scott to come back again later in the same school year!
We engaged different kids and we had a different adult partner involved, but the results were just as impressive.
We continue to appreciate Scott’s work and have used his articles to promote awareness and professional development with our staff."
Linda Henry, Principal, Kirkland Lake High School, Kirkland Lake, Ontario
After the 4 weeks were finished, the kids in the program wanted to continue it on their own. Within 90 days, every single one of these kids had tapered off to the point that none of them were doing drugs or smoking anymore. One student who was addicted to the internet and video games drastically reduced how much time he spends online.
Each and every student who joined the on-going group meetings had noticeable behaviour changes; for example, higher self esteem, regular attendance, more friends and a much clearer head upon returning to school Monday mornings.
The results we got were so remarkable we asked Scott to come back again later in the same school year!
We engaged different kids and we had a different adult partner involved, but the results were just as impressive.
We continue to appreciate Scott’s work and have used his articles to promote awareness and professional development with our staff."
Linda Henry, Principal, Kirkland Lake High School, Kirkland Lake, Ontario
" We owe you big! Your program changes lives. It was an honor to be a part of it. We've had a number of kids who either quit smoking or drastically reduced. And one boy gave up weed altogether - and now that the 28 days is up, he is now applying your program to cigarettes. ... A lot of the kids actually surprised me with the exercise component of your program. Many of them started to see the benefits of exercising and actually ended up increasing and doing more with exercise then they had originally promised.
... All the kids apologized for things they've done that they felt bad about. A few of them apologized to their parents for stealing money from them. And the kids felt freed from doing this.
...Some of the kids that took on the bonus commitment of doing daily school homework actually came to me for help with their homework which was amazing. They would come to me after school or during lunch and I would help them.
...You have a major gift of discernment, being able to attract only those kids that were really committed - and your ability to cause those that really weren't there for the right reasons to make the right choice and not stay with us for the day (if they were not going to follow through on the full 28 day program) - was incredible. And all those that stayed for the full 3.5 hour seminar/workshop, stuck with the whole 4 week follow-up program. If I had to weed them out myself, there is no way I could have had that discernment that you have. I would have probably encouraged some of the wrong kids to stay and be in the group and I would have had problems. It might not have worked.
...Scott, you demonstrated to us a lot of positive affirmation. Even when you were weeding people out of the group, you were affirming peoples’ value. It wasn't anything artificial. It was real and authentic. You really cared like these kids have value. The kids could sense – they could feel - that they were valued and mattered, that there was intrinsic value to them.
Your program is a process and a journey. It's not like everyone has all their problems solved, but all the kids that participated are better off than they were before you came."
Corey Copeland, Student Success Teacher, Kirkland Lake High School, Kirkland Lake, Ontario
... All the kids apologized for things they've done that they felt bad about. A few of them apologized to their parents for stealing money from them. And the kids felt freed from doing this.
...Some of the kids that took on the bonus commitment of doing daily school homework actually came to me for help with their homework which was amazing. They would come to me after school or during lunch and I would help them.
...You have a major gift of discernment, being able to attract only those kids that were really committed - and your ability to cause those that really weren't there for the right reasons to make the right choice and not stay with us for the day (if they were not going to follow through on the full 28 day program) - was incredible. And all those that stayed for the full 3.5 hour seminar/workshop, stuck with the whole 4 week follow-up program. If I had to weed them out myself, there is no way I could have had that discernment that you have. I would have probably encouraged some of the wrong kids to stay and be in the group and I would have had problems. It might not have worked.
...Scott, you demonstrated to us a lot of positive affirmation. Even when you were weeding people out of the group, you were affirming peoples’ value. It wasn't anything artificial. It was real and authentic. You really cared like these kids have value. The kids could sense – they could feel - that they were valued and mattered, that there was intrinsic value to them.
Your program is a process and a journey. It's not like everyone has all their problems solved, but all the kids that participated are better off than they were before you came."
Corey Copeland, Student Success Teacher, Kirkland Lake High School, Kirkland Lake, Ontario