Community Corner

Community Invited to Upcoming Forum: 'It's No Big Deal… Right?'

The townhall meeting begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Quaker Valley Middle School.

The public is encouraged to attend an upcoming event at the Quaker Valley Middle School focusing on issues associated with adolescent drug and alcohol use.

The event, “It’s No Big Deal… Right?,” begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and will include a screening of The Alliance Against Drug's moving documentary, "Listen II."

The documentary about chemical addiction in young people features Sewickley residents Jeff and Patti Bennett, who discuss the loss of their daughter, Emily, to a heroin overdose. 

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Jeff Bennett of Bell Acres will share the story of his daughter’s struggle with substance abuse. Debbie Kehoe, executive director of The Alliance, will also be present. 

Parents of children in fourth through ninth grades are especially encouraged to attend because the meeting's focus will be on the scope, nature, and problems associated with adolescent use of alcohol, marijuana and other drugs, and what parents can do about it.

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"Over the years, we have felt that there is still a culture amongst some parents of 'Oh, I drank when I was a teen…,' without them truly understanding that we know much more about the implications of underage alcohol and other drug use," said Susan Kaminski, chairwoman of Youth Connect. "Just like the transition from days where cigarettes were 'healthy,' to when we discovered that they were life-threatening, we have learned that early use of alcohol and other drugs has serious, long-term implications."

A number of local residents, as well as a leading expert in teen substance abuse disorder. Dr. Duncan Clark, MD, PhD plans a short presentation and a question-and-answer session.

"We have literally searched the world for an expert on the effects of alcohol and drug use on the teen brain. From attempting a skype conversation with an expert in New Zealand to talking with the NIH, we spent almost a year trying to find someone to address the issue from a different angle,"  said Joan Murdoch, vice-chairwoman of Youth Connect. "Amazingly, a post on a national news site led us to a world-renowned expert…at University of Pittsburgh! "

Clark is director of the Pittsburgh Adolescent Alcohol Research Center, and a leading researcher in the area of adolescent substance abuse disorder, and its impact on brain development; he will talk about his research, and some practical ways to take action. 

A panel of local high school students will wrap up the presentation with a frank discussion of what parents can do to help their children avoid the lure of drugs and alcohol. 

The event sponsored by Youth Connect is free and open to the public. For more information on the town hall meeting, email youthconnect@hotmail.com.


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