Dr. Bertha K. Madras, deputy director of demand reduction for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, delivered the keynote address at yesterday’s conference. She used the occasion to announce an $8.3-million federal grant that will be used to set up a voucher program for adults and teens seeking drug and alcohol treatment.

The Providence Journal / Steve Szydlowski

WARWICK — At least once a day John and Christine Raposa check their daughter, Kayleigh’s, computer. Eight months have passed since the 16-year-old high school junior was killed while riding in a car driven by a drunken driver, but she still gets instant messages from her friends.

Some write about their days, the classes they would have shared with her at Mt. Hope High School, in Bristol, or the sports they would have played together. Some send messages saying they’ve seen the numbers 21 or 57 — numbers Kayleigh wore when she played for Mt. Hope’s basketball team and a youth soccer team in her hometown Warren.

And some simply say, “I love you,” or “I miss you.”

“Obviously,” John Raposa said yesterday, “she’s still with us.”

Raposa spoke at a conference on teenage substance abuse hosted by Family Court Chief Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Jr. and Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch.

The conference, “Substance Abuse Among Teens: Connecting the Dots,” drew 450 people to the Crowne Plaza hotel yesterday to hear strategies to prevent drinking and drug use by adolescents. The participants included police officers, state legislators, teachers and students. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse stopped by, as did Col. Brendan P. Doherty, superintendent of the state police.

In his opening remarks, Jeremiah said he decided about four months ago to hold the conference after a spate of underage drinking cases came before his court. There seems to be a “lack of understanding” among juveniles about the dangers of alcohol and drugs, he said. Compounding the problem, he told the audience, is that “parents don’t understand their responsibility.”

It’s no secret that underage drinking is widespread. In a recent survey of high school seniors in Rhode Island, half said they’d had a drink in the previous 30 days.

Presenters during the day-long event talked about programs aimed at reducing risky behavior, such as the state Third Eye Initiative, in which student groups meet to talk about preventing violence, crime and drinking.

Dr. Bertha K. Madras, deputy director of demand reduction for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, delivered the keynote address. She used the occasion to announce an $8.3-million federal grant that will be used to create a voucher program for adults and teens seeking drug and alcohol treatment.

Rhode Island is one of 22 states that have been awarded money under the four-year-old Access to Recovery program, which will allow at-risk people to choose from a variety of treatment programs, rather than having only a single option. They will also be able to get vouchers for bus fares, babysitters or other support services to allow them to enter a program. The state Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals will oversee the initiative.

“Different people respond to different types of approaches,” Madras said in an interview. “This gives them an opportunity to find an environment that resonates with them.”

During her speech, she commended Rhode Island for its system of adult and juvenile drug courts, saying afterward that the overall 60-percent graduation rate is high.

Madras said the courts are an effective way to treat offenders instead of only punishing them.

“This is a compassionate and just approach,” she said.

This and other innovative programs have helped fight substance abuse across the country. Among teenagers, drug use has dropped 23 percent over the past five years nationally, Madras said.

“That is a remarkable achievement,” she said. “But we still have very significant challenges ahead.”

Raposa was invited to the conference to tell the audience how his family has been affected by alcohol abuse. He came with his wife, his parents and his mother-in-law. Christine Raposa had a button pinned to her jacket with a photograph of Kayleigh on the front. Her husband wore a wristband that said, “Kayleigh. You’re Irreplaceable.”

Raposa fought back tears as he talked about the accident.

“Everything begins and ends with what happened on February 23rd,” he said.

That night, Raposa and her friend 17-year-old Julie E. Alfano were at a party in Bristol. Witnesses said Alfano was drinking shots of Bacardi and Gatorade before leaving to give Kayleigh a ride home.

A police investigation showed Alfano, the daughter of the Warren Town Council president, was driving her father’s Mazda at least 55 mph in a 25 mph zone when she lost control and smashed into a utility pole at Michael and Casey drives in Bristol at 11:25 p.m.

Alfano survived with minor injuries. Raposa was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Blood tests taken after the accident showed Alfano was driving drunk. On Sept. 19, she pleaded no contest to charges of driving recklessly and driving under the influence, and was ordered to serve one year in the Training School. Jeremiah was the judge in the case.

In an interview after his speech yesterday, Raposa said he and his wife urged the judge to give Alfano a short prison term because they wanted the focus of her sentence to be on community service.

“By sending her away for a long time, you’re punishing her, but you’re not really helping anyone else,” he said.

The attorney general’s office reluctantly agreed, Raposa said. Jeremiah ordered Alfano to carry out 200 hours of community service by speaking to school classes and youth groups about the dangers of drunken driving.

Raposa’s speech yesterday was the first time he’s talked at a public event about his family’s tragedy. He was given a standing ovation afterward.

“We’re trying to do whatever we can to help the cause,” he said, “whatever we can do to stop someone else from dying.”

akuffner@projo.com