LEWISTON — In her 35 years counseling teens for substance use or abuse, Vicky Wiegman has focused on instilling hope.

“I would listen for that question: ‘Am I going to be OK? Is everything going to be OK?’ It was a natural bid to survive,” she said in a recent telephone interview.

Kids struggling with drug, alcohol or tobacco use often feel as if all is lost, she said.

“But at 16, all cannot possibly be lost,” she said. “I try to be a hopeful person for them.”

Wiegman, 60, is set to retire June 17 from Lewiston Public Schools. She has been the sole substance abuse coordinator/counselor/tobacco treatment specialist for the high and middle schools. She also consults with elementary school educators. The district has more than 5,000 students.

Superintendent Jake Langlais said he is sorry to see her go.

In an emotional farewell speech at a recent School Committee meeting, Langlais called Wiegman “the foundation of all good things.”

Wiegman has touched thousands of lives over the past 35 years, at schools and in the wider community, he said.

“She believes in wellness for everyone — adults and kids alike,” Langlais said. “She is a leader. She is student-centered. She knows trends and has data and makes sure everyone has what they need to be well. Vicky is and will remain a leader in our state.”

Wiegman has served on the Lewiston Area Public Health Committee and worked with Healthy Androscoggin, among other health-related groups, over the years.

She has seen trends come and go. Most recently, vaping and cannabis use have increased, she said.

“Certainly, vaping nicotine has just exploded,” Wiegman said. “Some days I feel like everybody does it.”

Marijuana has been a constant, she said, but with the legalization of medical marijuana and recreational adult use, the health impacts are unclear to teens.

“It’s confusing to kids,” she said. “When something is normalized, it seems OK, but when you’re a kid, your body and brain are changing.”

She tries to help the kids who land in her office get to a place where they can see optimism and beauty.

“It’s been a real gift to see that over the years,” she said.

But not all respond to counseling, according to Wiegman.

“Some are lost to us,” she said. “They’re not buying what we’re selling, and that’s always hard. I just hope that if we weren’t able to get through, that someone or something in the future speaks to this person and they can get what they need: To be fulfilled and a contributing member of our society.”

Although Wiegman said she likes working with children and has been devoted to helping them, she is ready to move on.

“I’ve been candid with people,” she said. “I’ve been very clear that I just don’t want to do this anymore. It’s been a tough year for anyone in education.”

After more than a year of remote and hybrid instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, many students have emotional issues and are far behind academically.

Despite this blip, Wiegman has many success stories.

“Sometimes, they land in my office just crying, and I help them figure it out and get back in there,” she said. “A couple of those are graduating this year. That’s very moving for me.”

She promised one of these kids she would wait until he graduated before she retired.

“He said, ‘OK, Mrs. Wiegman, now you can retire.’”

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