Our Story
Prep National is based on the philosophy that America’s approach to substance abuse and addiction is in dire need of change. This approach, initiated decades ago with the so called “War on Drugs”, while focusing attention and effort toward criminalization and incarceration is not only a proven failure, but has also exhausted crucial resources needed to address these issues today.
Prep National is committed to changing the conversation about substance abuse and addiction to reflect the need to dismantle this scourge from its core. Because we believe that the key to doing this revolves around an empowered and informed public, it is the focus of our company to provide critical information, prevention education, awareness and intervention as well as vigilance to the many issues involving substance abuse. Prep National is dedicated to the notion that knowledge is power, that parents should be given the choice of action, and that successful intervention and education can provide hope for millions suffering from substance abuse and addiction.
Our Values
Our philosophy is driven by the premise that information is the predominant factor to solutions, and an informed public is an empowered public. Let us educate you.
Children need to have the tools to resist drugs and alcohol. Let us strive to build their self esteem and confidence so they can embrace the strength to do so.
Parents need the power of choice and individual focus on the needs of their children. Let us help you find these choices and intervene.
We all need to learn from past mistakes and safeguard the future. Let us all be vigilant.
Our Mission
With communities across The United States emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic, increased incidence of substance abuse and mental health comorbidities among our children has provided the unmistakable fact that our children are in crisis. Augmented by the rise in mass shootings, suicide and overdose rates across our country, we are in dire need of new, comprehensive programs to address each of these issues with a sense of urgency unforeseen in our history. With substantial and comprehensive substance abuse prevention and mental health awareness programs lacking in our schools and our communities, Prep National was founded under the basic principles of improving and enhancing our current approach to these crucially important issues for students in school and their parents, as well as members of our communities.
We want to champion a new approach toward substance abuse and addiction through:
Prevention Education - Empowering kids to embrace healthy choices by building self-esteem and confidence.
Public Awareness - Educating, training and assisting parents and professionals regarding the effects, factors and dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Intervention - Creating and implementing individualized communicative and interventive prevention plans, giving parents the power of choice when they discover that their child is using drugs.
Vigilance - Learning from the past to safeguard the future.
Meet the Founder
Melanie Vecchione
Founder and CEO of PrepNational
Melanie Vecchione has been an educator for 17 years. She has extensive experience working with middle and high school students including teens and preteens with learning and social emotional disabilities. She has dedicated her professional career to helping kids discover their strengths and best selves in and out of the classroom. She is a well respected professional and has paid particular mind to the growing drug overdose and mental health crisis impacting communities across the United States. Melanie is a mom of three young boys and is excited to expand her professional repertoire to address the ongoing issues children face today to help safeguard the future for her children and all kids growing up in today’s challenging world.
