NBCC Hosts Forum on Youth and Substance Abuse| 03:09PM / Wednesday, October 26, 2016 | |
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition is sponsoring a forum on marijuana and substance abuse on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. at Massachusetts college of Liberal Arts' Church Street Center.
The event is free and open to the public; pizza will be served at 5:45 p.m.
"Alcohol, Marijuana, and Opioids: What Parents Need to Know" will address the impact of alcohol, marijuana and opioids on a young person's brain and will be presented by Dr. Jennifer Michaels, medical director of the Brien Center,
It will be followed by questions from the audience and the discussion will include the viewpoint of several community panelists including Dr. Kathryn Wiseman of Northern Berkshire Pediatrics; Mayor Richard Alcombright; Jessica Sweeney, director of new teen center Roots; interim Superintendent Robert Putnam of Adams-Cheshire Regional School District; Wendy Penner, director of prevention and wellness at Northern Berkshire Community Coalition; and others.
Experts say those who begin experimenting with alcohol and other substances when they are young experience a much greater risk of developing a substance use disorder. The longer youth delay substance use, the more likely they are to experience a life free from addiction. "It's important to think about what parents can do to foster healthy decisions during this critical time period for our youth," said Michaels.
The event is coordinated by the NBCC as part of its NB21 program to prevent youth substance use.
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