In this episode, hosts Dean Babcock and Jodi Miller explore how schools play a critical role in shaping youth experiences with substance use, prevention, and recovery. John Ferguson, a licensed marriage and family therapist with decades of experience, shares how supportive school policies and family engagement can prevent escalation and foster resilience. Ted, a parent in recovery, offers a deeply personal look at how he and his family navigated his son’s high school substance use challenges—finding hope through compassionate educators, recovery resources, and open communication. Together, these conversations reveal how recovery for young people begins not with punishment, but with presence, understanding, and connection.
Segment 1: Professional Interview – John Ferguson
Dean speaks with John Ferguson, a licensed marriage and family therapist and manager of the Ascension St. Vincent School-Based Mental Health Program, about how school systems address substance use among students. Drawing from two decades of experience in both youth and adult treatment settings, John discusses the evolving landscape of school-based interventions—from traditional prevention and education to trauma-informed and family-integrated approaches.
Segment 2: Personal Story – Ted’s Family Journey
In a candid and heartfelt conversation, Ted shares how his own recovery journey became intertwined with his son’s struggle with substance use during high school. When his son began experimenting with marijuana and vaping, Ted and his wife faced a difficult path—navigating school policies, family emotions, and community stigma. What they found, however, was compassion and partnership from school counselors, coaches, and eventually, an alternative recovery school, Hope Academy, that helped their son rediscover purpose and stability.
Takeaways
