NEWS RELEASE

Bergen County Parents Learn the “Warning Signs”
The Van Ost Institute donates thousands of books to Bergen County schools to spread the word about drug and alcohol abuse

 Englewood, NJ – (September, 2002)   Would you know when to suspect when your young teen or pre-teen is abusing alcohol or experimenting with drugs?  If you did discover your child was using, would you know what to do and what not to do?   For parents of 5^th grade students throughout Bergen County, the solution to their dilemma will be a little easier: they can look in the book.

Throughout the county this Fall, parents of 5^th graders will be issued a copy of “Warning Signs” a book co-authored by Elaine and Dr. William Van Ost, founders of the Van Ost Institute for Family Living, Inc., a privately-run not-for-profit substance abuse treatment facility located in Englewood. The books are being given to the county school system at no charge by the Institute to assist the schools in their parent awareness efforts.

“We are hoping that every parent will take at least a few moments to scan the book to learn the signs, so that hopefully those kids at risk get discovered early--before their addictive behaviors become life-altering events,” notes Dr. Van Ost, who, left a successful pediatric practice in the early 1980s to create the Van Ost Institute for Family Living.

“Parents tend to either be blissfully ignorant to the signs that their child is using drugs or they are in serious denial,” says the doctor, adding that “the relaxed attitudes of the baby boomer generation towards alcohol, tobacco and marijuana make it tough to convince parents that their children may be at risk to a lifetime of addiction problems.”  

The idea for distributing the book “Warning Signs” to schools became a reality when the Institute’s board president, John Johl, presented the idea to Bergen County Schools Superintendent Dr. Aaron R. Graham who quickly saw the merit in the book.

“The Institute felt that the school system was the best place to talk to parents about their children—hopefully before they start using,” notes Johl, “So we approached them first.”      

“The Bergen County public school system has a strong commitment to the communities we serve to develop parenting awareness with regard to drug, tobacco and alcohol use and abuse among our youth,” said Superintendent Graham, adding that “Warning Signs and the efforts of the Van Ost Institute are very well aligned to meeting this need. We are delighted to have their generous gift of information that could potentially help save lives.”

Van Ost Board of Trustees President John Johl, of Johl & Company Insurance in Westwood, notes the donation of thousands of books was made possible from a special grant provided by the Palisades Education Association. “We simply could not have underwritten a printing and distribution project without the generous support of the Palisades Education Association,” said Johl.

According to the County Superintendent of Schools, copies of  Warning Signs will be distributed in early to mid October by the superintendents in various districts throughout the county.  In addition, the Institute plans to mail out copies to local police departments, boards of health and public libraries.

Established in 1983, The Van Ost Institute for Family Living is a private, not-for-profit counseling center that provides education and support programs on drug and alcohol abuse rehabilitation for children, teens, adults and senior citizens. For more information, contact the Van Ost Institute for Family Living, 150 Palisade Avenue, Englewood, NJ or visit the web site at www.vanostinstitute.org.

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