Forum on emerging drug trends May 13 Ellendale’s UM Church
Synthetic drugs, including K2, Spice, bath salts, and Scooby Snax, are an emerging issue in our communities. These drugs threaten the health and safety of our youth.
The problem
Drug abuse is one of the most hidden and pervasive risks to adolescents today. Young people are dying from drug overdoses. At the same time, many parents have no idea about today's variety of drugs, their accessibility, their effects, and how to talk about it with their children.
The drug abuse trends over the past several years include the rise of synthetically produced substances sold as "research chemicals" or "bath salts," non-medical use of prescription painkillers, and heroin that costs as little as $10. Even the most concerned parents are so uncertain about how to address the topic, that they often say nothing at all.A step in the right direction
Effective drug abuse prevention involves parents, schools and communities. An educational, school-based event for parents helps take this difficult issue out of the shadows gives everyone a voice in addressing it. The goals are to broaden the awareness of parents, educate them, answer their questions, and provide tools to help them better address substance abuse with their children.
The speaker
Carol Falkowski is considered Minnesota's foremost expert on drug abuse, and is author of the book “Dangerous Drugs: An Easy-to-Use Reference for Parents and Professionals.” She has delivered workshops on drug abuse to communities in 28 states. Former director of the Minnesota state substance abuse agency and director of research communications at Hazelden, she also has been part of a nationwide, 20-member drug abuse epidemiology network since 1986. Her opinions are sought out by many national and local media outlets including the New York Times, USA Today, the Today Show, and National Public Radio. After 25 years of state service, in 2012 she started Drug Abuse Dialogues, an educational organization. Find her biography, publications and speaking events for professional and community audiences at www.DrugAbuseDialogues.com.
A Community Education Forum will be held at the Ellendale United Methodist Church on Tuesday, May 13th at 7 p.m. The event is free to the public. If you need a certificate of attendance for CEUs for licensing boards, there is a $20 fee. Two hours of CEUs are available.
The forum is sponsored by:
• Drug Abuse Dialogues, LLC, a Minnesota based business that delivers educational training workshops about drug abuse to wide variety of professional audiences and community groups
• Minnesota Social Service Association.
• Moebius Education, specializes in program development and continuing education for health and human services.