Heroin/substance abuse awareness night to be held at Sidney HS on Feb. 10
The Sidney Rotary Club will host a heroin/substance abuse awareness night at 5:30 p.m. February 10 at the Sidney High School auditorium.
The night is free and all members of the community are invited to attend. Dinner will be provided. Door prizes will also be given away. Child care, with activities, is also available.
The program will be presented by a panel of professionals to help educate and inform community members on how to be proactive in the growing epidemic of heroin and substance abuse.
The panel will address current trends and interventions being done to combat the drug epidemic in our community. The panel includes a 22-year-old recovering addict who will tell her story in the hopes of helping individuals understand recovery. Following the panel discussion, there will be an open session for questions and feedback.
Sources for support and advocacy will be available.
Panel members include:
• AJ: a 22-year-old community member who has maintained two years of recovery from poly-substance abuse.
• Chris Kemp: Director of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services of Delaware County
• Craig DuMond: Delaware County Undersheriff.
• Michael Hood: Chief of Police, Sidney Police Department
• Karen VanValkenburgh: Program Director, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County (ADAC)
“Heroin and substance abuse is a community problem and it will take the community to come together to solve it,” VanValkenburgh said. “The solution begins with increased awareness and education.”
Prevention and support efforts are available. The Sidney Rotary Club will supply a fixed number of prescription lock boxes to Delaware County agencies, the school nurse, and the Tri-Town Hospital. For more details, please contact Rotary member Lorraine Keckeisen at 607-437-4274, or Rotary Club President Keith May at 607-561-7345.
Pre-registration for the February 10 event at SHS is highly encouraged to accommodate dinner and door prizes. To register, please contact Chris Haynes, Sidney assistant principal, at 607-561-7712, or [email protected].
Posted: Monday, January 18, 2016