A group of New Canaan parents is launching an ambitious effort to combat teen drug and alcohol abuse by empowering those on the frontlines of the battle—other parents.

The as-yet-unnamed group includes 20 parents equipped with training and materials to lead intensive 12-hour workshops designed to teach skills such as how to communicate with your kids about touchy subjects and where to set boundaries.

"You don't just go directly at addressing alcohol and substance abuse, you have to go back and lay the groundwork with the parents, to give them the tools to parent," said Robert Curry, who is spearheading the effort.

Curry has assembled not only a group of parents but a broad-based team of supporters that include professionals from clergyman to teachers to cops. He's also led the effort to raise $20,000 for program materials and expenses. 

Within the next few weeks, parents should begin seeing information about the workshops in churches, at the library and through community groups which have agreed to help spread the word. While the general sessions won't begin until fall, the group is already putting together workshops for the summer; one for the parents of adolescents being treated at Silver Hill Hospital and one for adults in 12-step programs, said Curry. He and others hope to continue their efforts indefinitely, reaching as many parents as possible.

But the over-scheduled, hyper-stressed environment that some say helps drive kids to drink and take drugs in places like New Canaan could make the program a hard-sell for busy, Type-A parents here. The workshops will take place over six two-hour sessions, with homework in between. And unless the parents are divorced, they'll both be expected to attend.

"I think it will be challenging getting the people who really need to be at these programs, said, Diane Blasco, a New Canaan mother of four who was among the parents who were trained and certified late last month as workshop leaders for the Active Parenting program. "I think that's always the issue—a lot of times you have to wait for a crisis to occur before you even know you have a problem."

The scope of the problem was highlighted in a recent Greenwich Magazine article that referred to Fairfield County as "The underage drinking and weed capital of the country." And in a poll of high school students earlier this year by New Canaan CARES, teenagers said drinking is so prevalent that choosing not to imbibe makes it hard to be part of the social scene. 

In the 28-month period starting Jan. 1, 2008, there were 65 arrests related to underage possession of alcohol, many of those taking place at parties, said Sgt. Carol Ogrinc, youth officer of the New Canaan Police Department. During the same period, 19 minors were arrested on drug possession charges.

But racking up arrests is hardly the solution said Ogrinc. 

"As a police department, we are 45 members; we can only do so much. Parents getting involved is critical."

Though this is the first community-wide effort targeted at parents, New Canaan already has a number of anti-drug and alcohol activities focused on students, said Anthony Phillips, director of Youth Services. As someone who has often heard students talk about the pressures they face, he believes parents can play a big role in heading off problems.

"When you build them up and teach them to be responsible in other areas, then they're more likely to make better choices," he said. 

The workshops will follow curriculum developed by Georgia-based Active Parenting Publishers and include guest speakers representing law enforcement, schools and community organizations. The program will also integrate research from How to Raise A Drug-Free Kid by Joseph Califano, who spoke about the issue at an event in New Canaan introducing the effort earlier this spring.

Program materials include a workbook and DVDs meant to spark discussion by showing parents grappling with sticky issues.

"I think it hits a lot closer to home when you can see it visually," said Sangeeta Appel, another parent who trained to lead the workshops.

Though his own children are now grown, Curry says he's witnessed the devastation of substance abuse in his own family—his father died from alcohol-related problems—and in the families of the men and women he works with as an executive coach.

While it may not hit so close to home for everyone, Curry believes it's everyone's problem.

"There is no one I know of who is not in some way impacted this issue," he said.

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For more information about Active Parenting programs in New Canaan contact Robert Curry at 203-972-9400 or RobertC@turningpointforleaders.com.