Joel Bekken, the drug and alcohol counselor at Fossil Ridge High School, remembers how many of his high school friends went down the wrong path because of substance abuse.

“A lot of their pathways to their addiction now, started when they were in high school,” Bekken said. “It was wild being able to talk to so many people that would have been like, ‘I would have done things differently if I was in high school.’”

Before he became a counselor at Fossil, Bekken worked as a bartender for 14 years, which helped shape his view on substance use. Bekken describes his current job as “[working] with students with substance use, addiction, and mental health.”

“Thinking of my time loving and talking with people as a bartender, I was like well, I would be able to love to be able to put that to good use, and not just get people intoxicated all the time, but actually be able to use that for the better,” Bekken said.

Bekken did not expect to get this position. He had planned on working as a traditional counselor until the drug and alcohol counselor position was created in 2021. Bekken’s job is 100% funded through a marijuana tax dollar grant. Taxes from legal marijuana purchases gets put back into Colorado schools.

Junior Josie Hunsinger said Bekken has helped her figure out ways to help herself when she struggles.

“[Bekken] Is a really powerful human being,” Hunsinger said. “He can also tell you exactly what he is going to do to help you.”

Junior Isabella Doss said she thinks teens are scared to meet with Bekken because of his job title. He is advocating to get his title changed to substance use prevention counselor, so there would be less stigma around seeing him.

“There’s that stereotype that if you come and see me people think you’re a ‘druggie kid’ or something like that which is far from the truth,” Bekken said.

Bekken wished his high school had someone like him on staff to help guide him.

“I was someone that could have used someone to talk to as a kiddo,” he said.

Seeing how substances or life problems can shape people, especially teens, inspired Bekken to become someone who helps others in need or just listens about friend drama, relationships, family issues or anything else.

“My first interaction realized how you could just be honest and it’s okay, and people actually help you,” Hunsinger said.

Doss also sees Bekken’s work as important.

“It makes me feel secure at school that there’s somebody I can go to,” she said. “There is someone looking out for me.”