SafeLaunch and Signature Flight Support today announced the “Flights Above Addiction Tour” in four West Coast cities, in the effort to help stem adolescent drug and alcohol exposure and addiction. Signature Flight Support is a global leader in fixed base operations (FBO). During each tour stop, local youth, parents and community leaders are invited to participate in an interactive experience to learn about the science of addiction and how it affects the human brain while it is still under development. At every event, youth have the opportunity to paint their dreams for a healthy, addiction-free future on a Cessna Skylane, the “Flights Above” Tour plane, while SafeLaunch “Wing Parents” (parents who have lost children to addiction) speak to the other parents in attendance. According to experts, the United States is experiencing an “addiction epidemic,” due to the escalating use of opioids and incidents of alcohol poisoning and drug overdoses, which together led to the deaths of approximately 65,000 Americans in 2016. “Ninety percent of addiction starts before age 18,” said Janet Rowse, SafeLaunch co-founder. “Addiction is a preventable brain disease that we are aiming to stop. By inspiring teens to set goals, take control of their lives, and imagine the vast possibilities that this beautiful world offers, we actively inspire them to achieve a life above addiction.” The Tour stops at the regional airports of Scottsdale, Ariz., on June 17; Palm Springs, Calif., on June 24; Fresno, Calif., on July 22; and San Diego on Aug. 5. “At Signature Flight Support we believe in the importance of being involved, responsible members of our communities where we work and live, and that includes providing a safe environment for our children,” said Eric Hietala, Western Regional Vice President at Signature Flight Support. “Addiction, with its potential to ruin lives, must be stopped at an early age. That’s why we are active proponents of SafeLaunch, which educates parents and vulnerable teens, and helps them imagine a positive path for their futures.”
