The Program and The Players:
Jonathan Scott is a professional speaker and educator working to enlighten people on the subject of substance abuse.
Jonathan is a recovering drug addict. Jonathan focuses on comprehensive drug facts, the social and political
environment surrounding drugs (legal and illegal), and the chemistry of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and their effects on the
body.
Kelly Townsend is the director of the Miles to Go program. Kelly spent her life as the friend and relative of numerous
(recovering as well as active) alcoholics and drug addicts. Kelly focuses on the emotional repercussions of addiction
and its effects on family and friends. She also studies the educational process and communication (empathetic
listening and productive speaking). She is especially interested in high-risk children with ADHD, dyslexia and other
learning difficulties. She is currently working to complete her Ph.D in Psychology
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q- Jonathan is always asked the question: “How can you effectively teach our children about drugs when you don’t
appear to be damaged?” Or “You don’t look like 25 years of drug abuse has had any outward negative effects. Why?”
A- We make sure the students know that many, if not most, of the negative consequences of drug use are invisible to
the casual observer. We have no idea of the extent of hidden damage Jonathan has caused himself, or how it will
manifest itself in the future (e.g. cancer, liver damage, heart damage, etc.). We also want them to appreciate the extent
of the emotional damage caused by Jonathan’s drug abuse - the broken relationships, the dead friends, the friends in
jail, and the monetary losses the drugs brought about - the wrecked cars, the hundreds of thousands of dollars wasted
on the drugs themselves, etc.
Q- Won’t discussing children of alcoholics bring up a lot of potentially scary issues for our children?
A-We are not there to set fires! The subject is presented in two ways, first as a part of Kelly’s story, then in the context
of “How to help a friend or family member in trouble”. There are 28 million children of alcoholics in America. We
average approximately a half a dozen students per class who have family issues they’d like to discuss privately. We
cannot overlook these high-risk children when it comes to this subject.
More Information for Parents:
Jonathan is a recovering drug addict. Jonathan focuses on comprehensive drug facts, the social and political
environment surrounding drugs (legal and illegal), and the chemistry of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and their effects on the
body.
Kelly Townsend is the director of the Miles to Go program. Kelly spent her life as the friend and relative of numerous
(recovering as well as active) alcoholics and drug addicts. Kelly focuses on the emotional repercussions of addiction
and its effects on family and friends. She also studies the educational process and communication (empathetic
listening and productive speaking). She is especially interested in high-risk children with ADHD, dyslexia and other
learning difficulties. She is currently working to complete her Ph.D in Psychology
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q- Jonathan is always asked the question: “How can you effectively teach our children about drugs when you don’t
appear to be damaged?” Or “You don’t look like 25 years of drug abuse has had any outward negative effects. Why?”
A- We make sure the students know that many, if not most, of the negative consequences of drug use are invisible to
the casual observer. We have no idea of the extent of hidden damage Jonathan has caused himself, or how it will
manifest itself in the future (e.g. cancer, liver damage, heart damage, etc.). We also want them to appreciate the extent
of the emotional damage caused by Jonathan’s drug abuse - the broken relationships, the dead friends, the friends in
jail, and the monetary losses the drugs brought about - the wrecked cars, the hundreds of thousands of dollars wasted
on the drugs themselves, etc.
Q- Won’t discussing children of alcoholics bring up a lot of potentially scary issues for our children?
A-We are not there to set fires! The subject is presented in two ways, first as a part of Kelly’s story, then in the context
of “How to help a friend or family member in trouble”. There are 28 million children of alcoholics in America. We
average approximately a half a dozen students per class who have family issues they’d like to discuss privately. We
cannot overlook these high-risk children when it comes to this subject.
More Information for Parents:
- We teach from 4 points of view: male, female, the user and the friend or family member of the user.
- Yes, we are a couple. We were married May 27th, 1999. We are based in Southern California and travel in a
minivan; much like our students might with their own families. We are also the proud parents of a kindergartner.
- We are full time speakers and students working in the field of drugs, psychology and education. We consider
ourselves to be coaches, not therapists. Jonathan is currently working on a Master’s degree in Psychology and
Kelly is currently working on a Ph.D. in Psychology.
- We understand the California market. We primarily work in private schools in the California Association of
Independent Schools. We also work in public, Catholic, Episcopalian, Independent and Charter Schools in
California and with home school families.
- It is our opinion that the best drug education is not about drugs but about communication. As often as possible
we teach with humor, which allows the students to open up and to listen.
- Our goal is to provide accessible adult role models who will answer students’ questions honestly and factually.
We want them to see us a people who used these substances, who had trouble with them, but are not going to
deceive them about what drugs may do to them.
- Our objective is to ask students to form an opinion about drugs. Whether that opinion is to use or not - form an
opinion and be able to defend it logically and articulately. Develop a viewpoint on the subject matter. When a
young person doesn’t have an opinion, they don’t have a value system in place on the subject. This puts them
more at risk when something is offered to them.
- We want to put drug myths to rest. There are myths from the 60’s about drugs still circulating that need to be
resolved.
- We’re not a just say no program. We teach from current facts, science and research, personal stories of how it
affected us, alternate word usage to keep them interested (i.e. we don’t use words like peer pressure), no
fear/scare tactics, no threats.
- Teachers in the classroom: Teachers are welcome and encouraged to participate in our programs.
- We are age appropriate presenters. What we discuss with 12th graders we do not discuss with 6th graders. 4th -
7th graders begin with the basics.
About Us
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Simplifying a Complex Subject |
