"A Dose of Reality" Program Overview
Linda Dutil touches young people's lives with a
personal blend of seriousness, humor,
and emotion. Her experience as an emergency room nurse
has taught her that many choices
young people make make often end
tragically. For the past several years she has been speaking to thousands of
middle
school, high school, and college students
across the country about
the dangers of drug
use,
underage drinking, alcohol poisoning, drinking &
driving,
driver and seatbelt safety, and self mutilation.
Intervention skills are an important part of this
program. Linda shares ways to say no
and very importantly, things to do if your friend
has made poor choices and has been
drinking. (Very often young people are at a party
and they panic when their friend is in
trouble.) This program brings with it a strong
emphasis to always get help for your friends and why
that is critical ... no matter what the
circumstance is.
Linda doesn't lecture. She simply shares with students
in a 45-minute
assembly
format what happens to them when they
make poor choices.
She shares personal, age
appropriate stories of young people that she has
cared
for. By demonstrating the emergency room overdose
or alcohol
poisoning
scene, she shows students exactly what they will
experience if
rushed to
the hospital.
This program is not graphic and not at scared-straight
approach. It is
straight
forward though. Linda's program never fails to get
and keep the
student's
attention.
Topics Addressed
1. Feelings:
- Peer pressure, Worthlessness,
"Fitting-in"
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2.
Alcohol:
- Alcohol poisoning
- Asphyxiation
- College level: How alcohol is
metabolized and "Why your friend doesn't
appear immediately drunk."

4. Drugs:
- Middle School level: "unknown
pills/substances", Marijuana
- High School and College level: Street drugs such as Cocaine,
Crack, Methamphetamine,
Ice, Heroin, Hallucinogens

- Prescription Drugs, Over the Counter
Medication, Diet Pills
- Segment about steroids upon request.
Presentation
Guidelines Length:
45 minutes. The duration can be shortened or lengthened to meet the needs of the participating school. Question and answer time after the assembly is welcomed.Audience size:
Any number of students is acceptable. The optimum range is
200 to 600 students. Auditoriums, gymnasiums, and
cafeterias are acceptable. Audio-Visual Needs:
- Microphone (hand-held, corded or cordless)
- One medium sized table
- Two chairs
- Display board (such as flip chart,
dry erase, or easel)
- Computer, Projector, and Screen for
Power Point (If possible, not
essential.)
Summary
"A Dose of Reality" is a unique and different presentation. Dutil's sincere and engaging personality shines in this energetic and interactive program. Her compassion and emotion
grabs you, pulls you in, and leaves you with a new respect for your physical and mental health. This assembly does make a lasting difference in young people's lives. In a very appealing
yet straightforward manner, Dutil delivers a fascinating……….dose of reality!
Linda Dutil, R.N. (Emergency Department Nurse)
Linda Dutil grew up in the town of Stockbridge, Massachusetts. As a teenager, she watched the lives of close friends altered by poor choices
concerning drugs and alcohol.
Eventually, she ended up in the state of Maine where she met and married
her husband Brian. Her long time fascination with science and medicine finally brought her to nursing school. While her three children (now ages
18, 20, and 21) were young, she completed her nursing degree. She soon discovered her love and fascination for emergency room medicine. "I found that making
a difference in someone's life was a tremendous personal reward," she stated.

Twelve years ago, a local Deputy from the Sheriff's Department called and asked for her assistance in one of the local schools.
The response to this first presentation was tremendous from both staff
and students. By sharing her experiences as an ER
nurse, Linda Dutil helps students consider the consequences of poor choices and enables them to develop healthy attitudes about life! "The emergency room is the last place anyone
wants to visit," Dutil states. "I hope to make a lasting impression on
young people across the country. I want to
empower them with the skills that they need to make
good choices which will enable them to stay safe!" |