White River Academy located in Delta, Utah announces the addition of a new effective drug and Alcohol prevention and intervention program. White River Academy (WRA) believes in utilizing programs proven through years of use and research to help troubled teens.

One of these research based programs utilized by WRA schools for troubled teens (http://www.teenhelponline.com) is the Positive Peer Culture (PPC) model. This model has been used for years in boot camps for boys assisting troubled youth to learn and apply principles supported by ongoing research. Research continues to support the assertion that youth involved in PPC based treatment programs show significant improvement in self-esteem and personal responsibility, along with reduced delinquent values and attitudes.

PPC is based on principles that help youth develop self-worth, significance, dignity, and responsibility as they become committed to the positive values of helping and caring for others. (Positive Peer Culture, Vorath and Brendtro, 2008)

In striving to utilize research based and proven approaches to deliver the best service, White River Academy's schools for troubled teens now offers Prime for Life. Prime for Life is a 6-20 hour education program for troubled youth and adults that focus on Alcohol and drug prevention and intervention. White River Academy utilizes the 20 hour curriculum as outlined by the PRI syllabus.

Thousands of people throughout the country receive the program through their employers, schools, boot camps for boys (http://www.teenhelponline.com), welfare-to-work programs, and places of worship. Many receive the program for continuing education and professional development. PRIME For Life programs are used statewide in Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Utah. PRIME For Life content is carefully selected to help people reduce the risk for Alcohol and drug problems throughout life. The program's nonjudgmental approach reduces resistance to the life-saving information presented in the program and increases students' openness to change. Information presented is based on documented research rather than opinions, exaggerations, or scare tactics. Troubled teens (http://www.teenhelponline.com) gain a greater understanding of the tremendous power they have in realizing the outcomes of their choices. The Prime for Life program has been accepted by NAADAC-The Association for Addiction Professionals-as "meeting nationally approved standards of education developed for the alcoholism and drug abuse counseling field. This is one of the reasons White River Academy has adopted the program as part of their curriculum.

Prevention Research Institute, Inc. (PRI) is a private, not-for-profit organization with a mission to reduce the incidence of Alcohol and drug-related problems throughout the world. Beginning in 1983, PRI developed PRIME For Life for a variety of target audiences: military personnel, parents, troubled youth, college students, employees and drunk driver offenders.

Ray Daugherty and Terry O'Bryan, co-founders of the Institute and co-authors of PRIME For Life, bring years of experience and strong commitment to reducing Alcohol and drug-related problems. The Institute is committed to evaluation of program impact, and its Risk Reduction programs have shown positive behavior change in both internal and independent studies. PRI provides consultation and ongoing support to individuals, businesses, organizations, communities and states and regularly provides workshops in its Lifestyle Risk Reduction programs. Contact Prevention Research Institute at http://www.primeforlife.org or 888-ASKPRI.

Justin Nielson, Program Administrator at White River Academy said, "I have seen a remarkable awareness and increased understanding of the dangers of drugs and Alcohol from the teens who have participated in the Prime for Life training program". He further stated that "since the Prime for Life program has been added to the White River Academy curriculum, students at White River Academy have begun to engage in mature discussions regarding drug and Alcohol awareness and prevention".

As an added benefit for the student at White River Academy, the Clinical Director, Gary L Anderson, LPC, a certified Prime For Life instructor said "The students who successfully complete the Prime for Life course also receive .25 academic credits of health or elective credit".

Because Prime For Life is utilized by states and organizations nationwide, another benefit of using the Prime for Life program at White River Academy's therapeutic boarding school (http://www.teenhelponline.com/rate-teen.html) is that many families will be able to find and access the same program in their area. Parents who wish to do so may access the same course at home and share in this life changing experience with their son.

White River Academy is more than just a school for troubled teens (http://www.teenhelponline.com) - thousands of parents are completely repositioning their perspectives on parenting with the free parenting advice in White River Academy's email course.