AROOSTOOK COUNTY – October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month and Drug Free Aroostook, a program of Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) is working with children of all ages on how they can live their best lives free of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs. With funding provided by the Drug Free Communities grant, Drug Free Aroostook will donate books to every public and elementary school library in the County.
Numerous studies have shown the benefits of deep breathing and mindfulness, including reducing stress and improving self-regulation, decision making and social skills. Children as young as four years old have benefited from learning some basic techniques. Drug Free Aroostookis distributing copies of Breathing Makes It Better: A Book for Sad Days, Mad Days, Glad Days and All the Feelings In-Between by Christopher Willard and Wendy O’Leary.
Meg Hegemann, ACAP’s Prevention Services Manager, says, “If we can teach children at a young age that emotions will come and go; that they don’t need to be afraid of or overwhelmed by them, they’ll be less likely to use substances to deal with those feelings later in life.” The book validates a variety of emotions and provides a short rhyme to help children allow those emotions, including fear and anger, to come and go. “Rather than stifling anger or fear, we can learn to ride those feelings out. We are less apt to make risky choices if we can breathe through the experience and trust that we will not be angry forever,” said Hegemann.
The book also includes breathing practices and discussion prompts that are helpful for parents and educators.
Drug Free Aroostook is a community coalition dedicated to helping young people in Aroostook County be their best, healthiest selves. Meetings are held every other month via Zoom. For more information about the coalition and its activities, contact Meg Hegemann at 207-554-4185 or mhegemann@acap-me.org.
