Shortly before Michelle passed away in 2025, she sat down with Amanda Hampton at the School Wellness Podcast. Michelle shared her work with and heart for Prime For Life. With her family’s permission, this episode is now live, and we would love for you to give it a listen – hearing from our dear friend and one of Prime For Life’s strongest advocates.
From the pod:
Dive into this insightful episode of School Wellness with Amanda Hampton as she converses with Michelle Stephen, Director of Programs and Training at the Prevention Research Institute. They discuss the Prime For Life program aimed at reducing substance misuse through prevention and persuasive methodology. With a robust history dating back to the 1980s, the program continues to evolve, now preparing for its tenth version, incorporating the latest research.
In this episode, Michelle explores the comprehensive range of programs offered by the Prevention Research Institute, from the early roots of parent-centric approaches to current universal and indicated prevention models. The narrative also delves into the systemic implementation of programs like Prime For Life in schools and communities, focusing on lifestyle risk reduction concerning alcohol and drug use. Emphasizing a positive, motivational framework, Prime For Life is constructed around personal values and the choices that protect these values, setting itself apart from conventional programs by being highly adaptive to various settings and age groups while ensuring evidence-based effectiveness.
This Memorial Episode includes a dedication to Michelle.
