The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence fights the stigma and the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions.

Project Tyler

Greater Indianapolis Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence
Indianapolis, IN

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The teenagers attending the 1995 PRIDE World Drug Conference in Indianapolis knew presenter Lisa Smith had something a little different to offer as soon as she walked into the room accompanied by an energetic five-year-old boy with a quick smile whom she introduced as Tyler, her adopted son.

Lisa popped a videotape into a monitor and suddenly the kids were confronted with an image of a tiny infant whose face was dwarfed by the pacifier in his mouth. Then they heard a loud, high-pitched cry and watched in horror as the baby began to go through what Lisa told them were alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

"This is what happened to Tyler when he was born," explained Lisa. "He has fetal alcohol syndrome and I brought him with me today to show you he's not a poster or a video but a real human being who has been through a lot because his mother drank heavily while she was pregnant."

Now that she has their complete attention, Lisa informs the audience about FAS and fetal alcohol effects (a condition that may include some but not all of the symptoms associated with FAS) just as she has been doing for the past four years as part of a powerful educational program sponsored by the NCADD Affiliate in Indianapolis.

"Lisa's presentation gives her audiences more than just facts," observes Lora Smith, who supervises the program. "They can actually see first hand what FAS is and hear how it has affected Lisa's family. Her story has an impact on everyone who hears her."

In 1996, the FAS/FAE education program was expanded and re-named Project TYLER, after Lisa's son. TYLER stands for Tender Young Lives Emerge Resilient. Now, in addition to young people, the program reaches birth, adoptive and foster parents raising drug-affected children, educators trying to understand their behavior, physicians and other professionals who can intervene and even prevent a tragedy before it happens.

The Thursday Night Network, a support and education group for parents, provides participants the opportunity to not only learn more about the disabilities of their children, but to receive encouragement and ideas from others experiencing the same challenges.

"It's wonderful to be with others who really understand what you're going through," says Lois Peterson, an adoptive mother of a 13-year-old girl with FAS.

Responding to needs data collected from parents, the Council has developed a training for teachers working with drug-affected children in their classrooms, and a presentation for family practice residents at local hospitals.

"There is a lot of public ignorance about FAS and other drug-related birth defects," Smith said. "We're trying to reach the people who can really make a difference.".

(revised 1/97)

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

244 East 58th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10022 phone: 212/269-7797   fax: 212/269-7510 email: national@ncadd.org   http://www.ncadd.org HOPE LINE: 800/NCA-CALL (24-hour Affiliate referral)