Speaker Guidelines
The guidelines are the framework for our members speaking at school- and community- based events. They provide for clear and consistent messaging at presentations for our hosts to rely upon.
REMEMBER! We are guests at the places we are speaking at and should adhere to responsible sharing through the guidelines outlined here.
Recommendations: Guidelines for Recovery Members
INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
Start with your name, age, and the school you attended, our mission, and why participating is important to you. A good place to start? Ask the audience if they’re aware of the
GOOD SAMARITAN LAW.
KEEP IT SHORT.
Speak for approximately 15 minutes. (This allows time for questions at the end). If you are one of three presenters, the first presenter can “lead” and do the introduction. Always use agerelatable content, which will keep your audience engaged throughout.
MAKE IT PERSONAL.
Discuss where you were at their age; include feelings, behavior, activities and your school performance, prior to substance use. Be specific about how you felt, so they can relate to you better.
SHARE DEFINING MOMENTS LEADING UP TO SUBSTANCE USE.
I.e. a family issue, losses, accidents, peer pressure, wanting to fit in. Emphasize, “We cannot predict the pathway of addiction until substance use begins.” Emphasize age-relatable moments (“When I was your age.”).
STAY ON TOPIC: JOURNEY FROM YOUTH > ADDICTION > RECOVERY!
INFORM
your audience about withdrawal and detoxification (if it pertains to your story).
DEFINE TERMS
such as Detox, Rehab, Abstinence, Recovery, Stigma, and Withdrawal. Explain symptoms of withdrawal, beginning with alcohol, opiates and/or benzodiazepines (i.e. Xanax). Avoid slang terms/words (i.e. Roxy).
QUESTION STUDENTS
as they may not be familiar with words/terms.
SPEAK ABOUT ABSTINENCE/RECOVERY.
Define the word abstinence, and how/why you live a life free of drugs and alcohol as part of recovery and the lifestyle choices that you get to make as a result of being clean and sober, etc.
ENCOURAGE STUDENTS
to opt for positive choices. Provide healthy alternatives; the importance of supportive friends that value smart and healthy choices.
REFERENCE NAMES
of school administrators and/or law enforcement only in a positive manner.
QUESTIONS?
Leave adequate time for students to ask questions at the end of your presentation.
Recommendations: Guidelines for Parent/Family Members
Presenters should observe
AT LEAST THREE
presentations before presenting. Share for no longer than 15 minutes (or however long the format provides). Remember this is an opportunity for you to educate others. Have some photos of your child to personalize the message (on USB stick for a laptop). Posters of your loved one can be made available at no cost.
Share your experience regarding the following:
FAMILY STRUCTURE.
Provide some background on your family structure and environment — traditional, divorced/blended?
CHILDHOOD.
What kind of student was your child? Describe their school environment, sports/activities and notable childhood memories. Provide the context of how their personal school life was.
THE PROGRESSION AND WHAT HAPPENED.
The “defining moments.” What signs did you specifically see that your child had changed? How did you find out? Was drug paraphernalia present? What was the interaction and your relationship like?
THE ACTIVE ADDICTION BEHAVIORS EXHIBITED.
I.e. pathological lying, car accidents, new “friends”, disappearance, etc.; what to look for.
EXPLAIN
what you have learned about the disease.
SHARE
how it affected you and your family.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO INTERVENE?
What resources did you use and what was the result? What were the most successful, if any, and least?
WHAT HAPPENED?
Provide as many details that you’re comfortable sharing.
WHAT IT IS LIKE NOW
for you and your family?
WHERE DO YOU GO FOR HELP
if you suspect or know of a problem?
REFERENCE NAMES
of school administrators and/or law enforcement (only in a positive manner).
WHY ARE YOU SPEAKING PUBLICLY?
Explain that you’d like to continue to increase awareness in the community, especially amongst other parents, of the reality of addiction deaths. End the stigma regarding the disease of addiction.
QUESTIONS?
Leave adequate time for students to ask questions at the end of your presentation.
PUBLICLY SHARING YOUR PERSONAL STORY (Publicity, Press Coverage, etc.)
As we become better known, we are receiving more coverage in newspapers, social media, radio and even local television news. This publicity is core to our mission of raising awareness and sharing our stories. However, it is important for us to realize that we cannot control the editorial coverage of events, especially large community-based events.
With this in mind, each parent speaker should carefully prepare their presentation prior to their event. Assume that anything that you disclose may become public. It is crucial to us that you feel comfortable setting your own personal boundaries.
Your stories are immensely powerful and moving, and we know that your bravery in sharing them is the reason
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY
is successful.
Recommendations: What to Avoid
NO PROFANITY.
Please be responsible for the words you use — they matter!
AVOID TALKING ABOUT RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS
or details around illegal activity/drug use. It is not necessary for our message. Avoid providing too much personal information and detailed storytelling. We are there to keep on point to
INFORM ABOUT DISEASE OF ADDICTION & RECOVERY
in a short window of time.
DON’T ASSUME
they know the terms/words you are using. Ask questions and engage students.
DON’T LABEL
any of the students as alcoholics or addicts, or that they will become one — just that substance use is the potential path. Keep it generalized, and do not go off topic of addiction to make points. Stay in the scope of addiction and personal journey.
DO NOT REFERENCE ANY NAMES
or any organization in a degrading way (i.e. law enforcement).
AVOID SPEAKING ABOUT “LOVING HOW DRUGS/ALCOHOL MADE YOU FEEL”.
Albeit useful in our personal recovery to understand this initial feeling, the point needs reframing in different terminology for youth.
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY DOES NOT SPEAK OF OUTSIDE ISSUES
(i.e. religious, political, causes), or anything beyond the scope of these guidelines as it pertains to your own experience and the general facts of addiction except in a crisis that effects our mental health (i.e. the pandemic).
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY MEMBERS SHALL NOT PROMOTE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, OR ENGAGE IN SELF PROMOTION
, when speaking in schools, to the media and to the general public. These include AA, NA and professional services. We are there as
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY
members.
12-STEP PROGRAM REFERENCES:
LIMIT SHARING ANY AA/NA EXPERIENCES
since we are speaking as people in recovery.
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY
is not affiliated with 12-step programs. Be clear that you are a Member In Recovery and not there to speak on behalf of any organization other than
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY
. Preferably, speak of AA/NA as “12-step programs”. If anyone wants more info, discuss after speaking. For reference:
RESPECT ANONYMITY
outside the fellowships. Do not refer to other Members during presentations as part of any AA or NA program.
Sharing Information
NEVER GIVE YOUR PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER TO STUDENTS AS THEY ARE MINORS.
We are there as guests of the staff. You may give the contact staff or school personnel your info if they wish to reach you in regards to connecting with a particular student, or a parent. If they wish you to call a student directly, refer them to an
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY COORDINATOR
.
SHARING RESOURCE INFORMATION
If you are ever asked to provide a list of treatment resources, you can refer them to your local
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY COORDINATOR
.
Social Media
Videos/photographs are permitted to be posted on the official
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY FACEBOOK ONLY
Receive verbal permission first from school staff and members.
NO STUDENTS ARE TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED OR VIDEOTAPED
(as per confidentiality laws). Ask for permission from members, as well.
PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.
All members must refrain from publicizing student events, photos or videos on personal social media. Members can share public community-based events/announcements as created on
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY
social media pages (Facebook, Instagram). Refrain from any personal/professional publicity at the press level. Community-based presentations are hosted by town organizations and we should regard to their publicizing preferences.
Publicity
As
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY
becomes more well known, we are exposed to more coverage in newspapers, social media, radio and even local television news. This publicity is core to our mission of raising awareness and sharing our stories. However, we realize that each of our Members and Parent Program Members has a deeply personal story that is theirs alone to determine how it should or should not be disseminated.
It is important for all of us to realize that
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY
cannot control the coverage of events, especially, large community-based events. With this in mind, each
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY
speaker should carefully prepare their presentation prior to their speaking event. You should assume that anything that you share will make it into news or other coverage of the event, and you should include only what you are comfortable in disclosing.
Your stories are immensely powerful and moving, and we have all seen how your bravery in sharing them has made
ALUMNI IN RECOVERY
grow into the success that it is today. But your ability to continue to share your journey relies on respect for your privacy and it is critical to all of us that you feel comfortable to set whatever boundaries you feel appropriate.
Good Samaritan Law
In regards to alcohol and drug overdoses, this law offers legal protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who are, or who they believe to be, injured, ill, in peril, or otherwise incapacitated.
The protection is intended to reduce bystanders’ hesitation to assist, for fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death.