As the father of three children now in their 20s, Kevin Haggerty says he knows what it’s like to navigate the tricky terrain of adolescence in communities rife with drugs and alcohol.

As a researcher, he’s also seen how communities can make a powerful difference when leading figures — from parents to principals — make it clear to youth that drug- and alcohol-use is a bad idea and work to find other healthy outlets for teens.

Next week, he’ll bring his message to Vashon. In his talk, “The Power of Parenting, the Power of Community,” he’ll address the critical need for parents and communities to use every tool at their disposal — from consequences to community meetings — to, as he puts it, “delay initiation as long as possible.”

The stakes are high, he said. Marijuana use, in particular, has been shown to have a huge impact on a teen’s motivation, often affecting his or her performance at school or even ability to graduate, he said. 

What’s more, he said, ample evidence shows that “the longer you can delay using, the less likely people will abuse or develop a dependence later in life. And that’s what we’re most concerned about.” 

Haggerty is highly regarded in the world of drug and alcohol prevention. He’s worked in the field for 26 years and is currently the assistant director of the Social Development Research Group at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work.  

His research includes numerous studies on science-based prevention, including a particularly ambitious project — a federally funded, long-term analysis of 24 communities in seven states, where he and his colleagues are testing a prevention approach called “Communities that Care” to determine its effectiveness in addressing drug use, violence and anti-social behavior among teens.

He’s also been in the trenches: For several years, he was a counselor at Echo Glen Children’s Center, a juvenile detention center.

But more important, he said, “I’m the father of three kids. I’ve had to work at negotiating my way through this. … I understand what it’s like.”

Haggerty came to Vashon last year, where his command of the topic as well as his personable approach impressed many of the parents, teachers and youth advocates who attended, organizers said. Stephen Bogan, a therapist on Vashon who works extensively with teens, said he and others decided it made a lot of sense to bring him back. 

“Many parents found him very helpful,” he said. “It was a good way to merge a message about effective parenting and community norms.”

Haggerty, whose community presentation will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, is being brought to Vashon by the Vashon Island Prevention and Intervention Team (VIPIT), a coalition that includes most of the organizations and many of the professionals working on youth-related issues. Funding is through the Healthy Community Network, which recently received a multi-year federal grant to help it address Vashon’s high rate of teen drug and alcohol use. 

Tim McTighe, a parent involved with VIPIT, is helping to get the word out about Haggerty’s visit. The reason, he said, is because he sees the talk as part of an ongoing effort he and others are engaged in to try to alter Vashon’s culture of permissiveness, an attitude many believe has contributed to the Island’s high rates of teen drug and alcohol use.

“As a parent, it can feel pretty overwhelming and out of control,” said McTighe, the father of three, one at each of the three public schools. “The excitement to me is to begin discussions about how parents can feel more in control … and can work with their kids to decrease the risk.”

McTighe said he and others want to follow up on Haggerty’s talk by finding ways for parents “to continue the discussion.” To that end, he said, a second gathering is tentatively planned for Wednesday, May 18.

“We want parents to return to the table and figure out ways we can work together,” he said.

Kevin Haggerty’s talk will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at McMurray Middle School’s library. Parents of older elementary, middle and high school-age youth are encouraged to attend.