Capital Region BOCES > Substance Abuse Education & Prevention Programs

Substance Abuse Education & Prevention Programs

The JUUL Settlement

School districts in New York are eligible to receive funding through a historic settlement with JUUL Labs Inc. (JUUL) for its role in the youth vaping epidemic. The settlement funds will be used for evidence-based initiatives to combat youth vaping, including prevention education, student cessation programs, staff training, and enforcement of tobacco-free policies.

For districts pooling their funds through Capital Region BOCES, we will provide direct support in managing the rollout of selected programs and assist in tracking expenditures to ensure compliance and maximizing impact over the multi-year funding period. For districts managing their JUUL settlement funds independently, we hope the resources and program options included here will serve as a valuable starting point for your local planning and implementation efforts. Please see below a list of free and paid programs.

Paid programs

Capital Region BOCES

Our Engagement and Development Service can support your district in raising awareness and promoting prevention around youth vaping and substance abuse. We can produce high-quality materials for both print and digital use, that help inform students, parents, and staff, and reinforce your district’s commitment to creating vape-free school environments.

Communication/Design Options & Pricing:

Standard Design Two-Page Handout (option 1)
Equip your district with ready-to-use materials developed with trusted information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). These handouts speak to students, parents, and staff, sharing key facts about the dangers of vaping and sparking meaningful conversations without adding extra work for your team.

    • Two-page resource document (handout), customized with your district’s logo and brand colors.
    • Research & Design Fee: $790 (hourly rate $158).
    • Printing: Optional and quoted separately based on quantity.

Standard Design Campaign Package (option 2)
Go beyond handouts and launch a more thorough campaign to raise awareness about youth vaping.

    • Two-page resource document (handout) customized with your district’s logo and brand colors; a poster design, customized with your district’s logo and brand colors; and/or a digital graphic, intended for internal signage screens.
    • Research & Design Fee: $1,422 (hourly rate $158).
    • Printing: Optional and quoted separately based on quantity.

Content Design Campaign Package (option 3)
Create a plan that’s built around your district’s unique needs. We’ll work with you to develop custom materials using your district’s content and brand elements. From specialized messaging to unique formats, this option gives you full flexibility to drive the creative direction.

      • Two-page resource document (handout), customized with your district’s logo and brand colors.
      • A poster design, customized with your district’s logo and brand colors. 
      • Digital graphic, intended for internal signage screens.
      • Research, Writing and Design Fee: By quote (hourly rate $158).

More paid programs

Speak Sobriety

Founder and Speaker Stephen Hill offers engaging and impactful presentations focused on substance abuse prevention.

The First Choice & A Second Chance (option 1)
This powerful assembly combines storytelling with practical prevention strategies and personal connection. Key topics include goal-oriented mindset, strength of supportive networks, self-confidence as refusal skills and healthy coping strategies for mental health challenges without substances.

Break the Silence (option 2)
Follow-up breakout sessions occur during Health, PE, or other classes. Sessions focus on deepening understanding of assembly topics, knowledge retention, practical skill-building and detailed guidance on healthy coping skills.

Program prices:

    • One program is $5,000
    • two programs are $7,500 ($3,750 each)
    • three programs are $9,000 ($3,000 each)
    • four programs are $10,000 ($2,500 each).
    • Each additional program after four is $2,500.
    • Each assembly counts as one program and each day of breakout sessions counts as one program.

Substance Abuse Education Training: Nicotine Use and Vaping

For students: Educates about nicotine addiction dangers, effects on mood, concentration, and well-being; covers health, social, and environmental consequences; and promotes positive alternatives and supports open communication.

For educators & staff: Focuses on risks of vaping, nicotine addiction, and teen brain development; helps staff recognize vaping signs and devices; emphasizes supportive atmosphere and clear policy enforcement; and teaches role modeling and connecting teens to support services.

Pricing:

    • Half-Day (up to 25 participants) is $680; a full day is $1,350
    • The hourly rate is $230. Additional travel expenses may apply.

Provided by Parsons. For more information, contact Jillian Gecewicz, LCSW by email at jillian.gecewicz@northernrivers.org, visit www.northernrivers.org or call (518) 426-2766.

Chris Herren Talks

The First Day School Assembly (option 1)
Starts with a 29-minute film excerpt from Unguarded (ESPN documentary). Then Chris shares his story on addiction, peer pressure, vaping, bullying, and recovery, ends with Q&A. Also includes digital film copy, press kit, toolkit, and student resource webpage as well as high-risk concerns flagged for follow-up.

Pricing:

    • One presentation is $7,000 plus travel
    • Two or more presentations are $5,500 plus travel.
    • Presentation duration: one hour and 15 minutes (29-minute video, 35-minute talk, 10-minute Q&A). Best suited in an auditorium.

Prevention Starts with All: The Chris Herren Story (option 2)
An hour-long honest talk covering addiction journey, gateway drugs, prescription misuse, vaping and prevention responsibility. Session ends with a Q&A and includes a digital media kit and post-event recovery support.

Pricing:

    • One presentation is 10,000 plus travel;
    • Two or more presentations is $8,500 plus travel.
    • Available Monday through Friday during the 2025-26 school year. Schools are encouraged to partner with nearby districts to share costs and broaden reach.

For more information,  click here or contact Jenny Swider at jenny@herrentalks.com or (617) 614-1600.

Free Programs & Resources

  • New Choices Prevention Programs offer evidence-based adolescent programs, including Too Good for Drugs; SMART Talk: Cannabis Prevention and Awareness Toolkit; SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness; and Teen Intervene: individual intervention for at-risk students. Funded by NYS Office of Addiction and Services Support for Schenectady County schools. Contact Haleigh Snare at (518) 280-9895, email prevention@newchoicesrecovery.org or visit newchoicesrecovery.org for more information. 

  • St. Peters Addiction Recovery Center offers addiction recovery programming in Albany County. Funded by 2025 Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention Grant. For information, call (844) 754-0414 or click here

  • Addiction Care Center of Albany offers prevention programming by trained specialists. For more information, contact the Director’s Office at (518) 465-5829 ext. 412 or email Margaret Frias at mfrias@theacca.net.

  • Truth Initiative offers This Is Quitting, a free and anonymous text program for ages 13–24. Text DROPTHEVAPE to 88709 to enroll. Parents can text QUIT to (202) 899-7550 for support. Additional programs include EX Program (digital cessation) and Everfi Vaping Programs (free online courses). For more information, visit truthinitiative.org

  • Capital District Tobacco-Free Communities (CDTFC) partners with groups like Truth Initiative to promote tobacco-free living. Services include prevention, cessation support and reducing secondhand smoke exposure. For information, visit smokefreecapital.org or call (518) 459-2388.

  • NYS Center for School Health offers articles, self-paced courses, and resources on nicotine dependence for teachers, students, and parents. For more information, visit www.schoolhealthny.com or call (585) 617-2380.

Additional Resources

  • American Heart Association – Youth Tobacco & Vaping offers toolkits and educational materials for school staff, students, parents, health professionals. Call (800) 242-8721 or click here for more information.
  • Tobacco-Free Schools Toolkit offers policy templates, prevention strategies, educational materials, alternatives to suspension and youth cessation resources.  Click here for the toolkit.

  • American Lung Association – Helping Teens Quit offers INDEPTH: Alternative to suspension program and a one-hour ACT Training course on cessation interventions for adults.  For more information, call (800) 586-4872 or visit www.lung.org/quit-smoking/helping-teens-quit.

  • CATCH My Breath offers free, evidence-based vaping prevention program for grades 5–12. For more information call (855) 500-0050 or visit www.catch.org/program/vaping-prevention.
  • NYS Quitline offers free quit support for youth and parents. Posters and cards are also available. Text DROPTHEVAPE to 88709 (ages 13–24). Parents can Text QUIT to (202) 899-7550 or visit www.nysmokefree.com.
  • FDA Tobacco Education Resource Library offers print and downloadable tobacco education materials. Click here for details. 

  • Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes (PAVe) offers a national parent-led group with webinars and educational resources. Visit www.parentsagainstvaping.org for more information.

  • Capital District Tobacco-Free Communities (CDTFC) serves Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady counties, offering youth education programs, peer-led tobacco prevention programs and community engagement opportunities. For more information, visit smokefreecapital.org, call (518) 459-2388 or email. contact@smokefreecapital.org. Visit the It’s Not Just Menthol Youth Campaign  to learn more.