This week has seen Ulster Prevention Council stepping foot inside the schools for our first school events of the year! Freshman orientation brought us into Kingston, Highland, and Rondout Valley High Schools, where we were able to see many parents who were new to high school (and many seasoned parents) and some of our students from the Too Good for Drugs programming that we do in Rondout Valley Middle School, Highland Middle School, and from our after-school empowerment groups we facilitate at Bailey Middle School. It was a pleasure to see familiar faces and to meet new ones!
At both Kingston and Rondout Valley High Schools, we were asked to set up our highly sought-after presentation of Hidden in Plain Sight. Most parents, and many teachers and staff, have never heard of this and find it to be a very enlightening experience. It is one of our favorite educational tools because it is for parents only and they are usually quite amazed at things that they were not aware of or that could be in their child’s bedroom. The goal of the program is to raise awareness of items, behaviors, and risk factors that may indicate alcohol, nicotine (vaping or traditional tobacco), or other risky substance misuse. It encourages adults to look beyond the obvious and to have open, non-judgmental conversations with teens about prevention and healthy choices.
Mock Teen Bedroom: UPC sets up a realistic mock-teen bedroom setting with common household items that can be used to hide or disguise substance use or risky behaviors.
Interactive Exploration: Participants (parents, educators, guardians, caregivers) are invited to search the space for hidden items. Some are obvious, others are cleverly concealed.
Guided Presentation: During exploration, a prevention specialist explains the items, their potential uses, and the warning signs they may represent. They will also discuss substance use trends, symptoms, and how to initiate conversations with teens. Often, in conjunction with the Hidden in Plain Sight, there is a Current Drug Trends presentation given by our Community Prevention Coordinator, who explains the current trends in substance misuse, the risks to the youth, and ways for parents, guardians, caregivers (even educators) to initiate conversations with kids early and often with no judgment.
Q&A and Resources: Attendees can ask questions at any time and go to UPC’s table (usually right outside the door of the event) to receive their resources as well as local prevention resources. There is always someone available after the event to answer any questions that parents/guardians/caregivers may have.
Some Examples: Marijuana-themed clothing, “420” items, hidden compartments in clothing or other household items, flasks, sploofs (smoke filters), cough syrup, vaping devices, room decor glorifying drugs/alcohol.
Hidden in Plain Sight is a hands-on, awareness-building tool that turns a teen’s environment into a learning opportunity, equipping adults with the skills to spot risks and start meaningful conversations. We find that there is a mixed reaction to this presentation: enlightenment or fear. This is normal. This does not mean that every youth is hiding substances or paraphernalia in their room. However, this is a tool to help adults recognize subtle or hidden signs of substance misuse—it is all about awareness and can lead to a healthy, early conversation with your child.
We will be presenting Hidden in Plain Sight at schools throughout the year. Please watch our calendar or that of your school to see if we will be at your child’s school in the upcoming 26-27 school year. We also present this within the community, when possible—again, watch our calendar for events. You won’t want to miss this opportunity! We look forward to exploring with you!