Mission

Addiction has long been identified as a personal failure, a problem for those who CHOOSE to destroy their own lives.  New evidence challenges this notion and identifies four personality traits as markers for vulnerability to addiction and mental health issues – Sensitivity to Anxiety, Impulsiveness, Hopelessness and Sensation Seeking. As in anything, these traits run along a spectrum and at healthy levels they provide the individual with opportunities for success.  Identifying these individuals at an earlier age will help them avoid negative pit falls and use those same traits to access compassion, focus energy levels and identify healthy outlets (Just to name a few). 

Read more about the four traits that put kids at risk for addiction. 

As a society, we must acknowledge that addiction and mental health have a very strong genetic base.  Our goal is to identify those who may be at risk and assist them in developing these same traits in a positive way.

4Garrett is a local (Kansas and Missouri) not for profit foundation committed to educating the public on the following issues related to addiction and mental health:

• Individual, family and genetic vulnerability
• Methods of Prevention
• Best practices for Identification and Early Intervention
• Successful treatment options

PreVenture Program - Developing Coping Skills

Intervention – Providing tools for our children

We believe it is imperative to equip our children with positive coping skills as this greatly decreases the likelihood that they will engage in alcohol/drug use as well as decreasing mental health symptoms.   

4Garrett has identified “PreVenture”, an evidenced-based program, as a critical component in preparing our community’s children.  This is a short program (2-90 minute sessions) providing coping skills based on personality type.  The program has shown significant decreases in alcohol/drug use and emotional struggles – more details below.  The current estimate is $25,000 to train local clinicians, implement the program in local schools and share the information nation-wide.  Please join us in our efforts – a list of opportunities is provided here. 

PreVenture Program

In just two 90-minute sessions, the PreVenture Program provides positive coping skills to students. Knowing the ability to cope is closely associated with the likelihood a person experiences addiction, PreVenture targets the four personality factors associated with poor coping skills: Anxiety, Sensitivity, Sensation Seeking, and Impulsivity and Hopelessness (Negative Thinking). The results of the PreVenture Program are astounding.

PreVenture is different than most addiction programs because it is backed by evidence-based research and is registered with the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. To learn more about PreVenture's credentials, visit the SMSHA evidence-based registry. 

The Need for Coping Skills Provided by the PreVenture program

 The coping skills taught by PreVenture are desperately needed. In Kansas alone, a recent survey of adolescents reported: 

• 11.3% report Major Depressive Symptoms in the last year
• 14.5% report binge drinking in the past month
• Only 6.4% of those with an alcohol problem will receive treatment
• 25.1% (nationally) will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in their lifetime

4Garrett Community Education

Nationally

On a National level we support the mission and 4 pillars of Shatterproof.