Helping Schools Worldwide Prevent Youth Substance Misuse

Students are navigating complex choices around substances, often without the right tools. At East West, we aim to strengthen their decision-making through a blend of data, science, and powerful storytelling.

East West is guided by the idea of balance.
Our approach centers around 3 pillars:

What Makes Us Unique?

  • Surveys to identify local risks and protections

  • Evidence-based tools like Social Norms Theory and Motivational Interviewing

  • Post-program assessments to measure change

Data &
Science

  • Real stories about substance misuse and recovery to challenge teen myths

  • Balanced storytelling to foster empathy, not fear

  • Emotionally resonant messages that boost recall and impact

Lived
Experience

  • Prevention best-practices, tailored to local realities

  • Region-specific content based on local laws, customs, culture

  • Bilingual sessions to engage families and bridge understanding

Cultural
Awareness

We use 6 proven tools—from the personal to the institutional level—to build a whole-school prevention ecosystem:

What are the Services?

  • ☑️ The Prevention Assessment
    A pre-program tool for staff that evaluates six key areas to generate a baseline prevention score and identify focus areas.

    ☑️ The WISH Student Survey
    A 35-question wellness survey designed for international school students, measuring identity, habits, substance use, mental health, and belonging. (Coming Summer 2025

  • ☑️ Assemblies
    Dynamic, relatable talks that debunk common myths and equip students with practical tools they can use right away.

    ☑️ Student Intensives
    Interactive small-group workshops that explore substance science, peer pressure, early warning signs, and how to help a friend.
    Full curriculum available upon request.

    ☑️ 1:1 Student Drop-Ins
    Private sessions for students to ask questions, explore concerns, and learn about quitting, harm reduction, or helping a peer.

  • ☑️ Social Norms Leadership
    Equip student leaders with the skills to understand and apply the Social Norms Approach—learning how misperceptions influence behavior and how to shift them effectively.

    ☑️ Lead with Purpose
    Train students in active listening, persuasive communication, and data storytelling to correct false norms and promote healthier choices among peers.

  • ☑️ Family Workshops
    Learn what teens are really saying in workshops—and how to turn that insight into meaningful conversations at home. We cover brain development, risk factors, and how to support confident, healthy decision-making.

    ☑️ Available in English & Chinese

  • ☑️ Info Sessions
    Explore current trends, warning signs, and everyday ways to support students more effectively.

    ☑️ Guided Group Discussions
    A collaborative space to review your school’s prevention policies and clarify staff roles.

  • ☑️ Policy Review
    Ensure school policies balance discipline with restorative, health-based approaches.

    ☑️ Early Intervention Systems
    Strengthen early response with tools like Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment, in close partnership with your counseling team.


How do we work together?

Through 5 stages of collaboration:

We learn your school’s culture and needs through interviews and data collection.

We design a customized prevention plan aligned with your timeline and budget.

We bring the plan to life — running the agreed upon programs and training.

We measure progress using quantitative and qualitative data from student feedback.

We define next prevention steps and provide ongoing support and guidance.

Data & Science

•

Lived Experience

•

Cultural Awareness

•

Keeping Youth Healthy

•

Data & Science • Lived Experience • Cultural Awareness • Keeping Youth Healthy •

TESTIMONIALS

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a navy blazer and white top, smiling outdoors with green foliage in the background.

"Diana's approach resonated deeply with our students, empowering them to make informed and thoughtful decisions as they transitioned to the next stage of their education.”

Delilah Lora-Arez
Head of Upper School
The Cathedral School

Close-up of a smiling middle-aged woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, blue eyes, wearing a gray sweater and a beaded necklace, standing outdoors in front of a gray stone wall.

“Diana has a remarkable ability to create safe, supportive, and engaging spaces where students feel heard and empowered to ask difficult questions and share openly.”

Brooks Eleck
Former Director
The Rippowam School

A woman with brown hair wearing large pink glasses and a white shirt, smiling in front of a white wall with orange line art.

“Diana’s dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of students have left an indelible mark on our students and their families.”

Jamie O’Hara Laurens
Middle School Dean
Lycée Français New York

Meet Diana

Hi, I’m Diana Hu McDowell — and this work is personal.

Over the past decade, I’ve partnered with 60+ schools across five continents, beginning with Freedom from Chemical Dependency (now part of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation). But my connection to prevention goes far deeper than a resume.

I was born to hardworking, immigrant parents — an engineer and a professor — and on paper, I had every advantage. But like some high-achieving kids, I struggled quietly and made painful mistakes before finding my way. That lived experience now shapes everything I do.

I founded East West Prevention—the first of its kind in Asia—to help students make safer, healthier choices before things go wrong. Blending personal insight with an MPA from Tsinghua University, I created a program that’s practical, research-based, and rooted in heart.

Let’s get to work.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a light pink blazer and black pants, is smiling and holding a microphone while gesturing with her right hand during a presentation.

Email us for a free consultation

hello@eastwestprevention.com