Being real and being realistic: Chemical abuse prevention, teen counselors, and an ethic of care

Despite the national goal of "drug-free" schools, recent data suggest that chemical abuse among school-aged children remains a concern. This qualitative case study presents a "unique case" within one school's substance abuse prevention program. In this program, pioneered in 1973, pairs of teen counselors "adopt" a middle school classroom and make regularly scheduled visits to conduct chemical abuse prevention sessions. Two of the teen counselors were perceived by both themselves and the faculty advisor as unlike other teen counselors. This study explores themes surrounding how they viewed their mission and carried it out. Two themes emerged as significant. These particular teen counselors saw both their role and their mission as being "real" and being "realistic." This perspective represents a concrete expression of the ethic of care described by Nel Noddings. It is a perspective which should be considered in developing teen counselor programs or any chemical abuse prevention program.