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Date: 1/12/2022
WEST SPRINGFIELD — To inform parents on how to keep their children safe from drugs and alcohol within their own homes, the CARE Coalition will host a virtual town hall meeting on Jan. 18.
Ananda Lennox, West Springfield CARE Coalition coordinator, said the session will include expert panelists such as Holly Perry, a pediatric ER doctor; Jay Gearing, West Springfield Police detective; Mark E. Klee, a pharmacist; Magda Colon, a youth health advocate from the district attorney’s office; and John Rice, a local business owner whose family was upended by opioid addiction.
“They will answer questions and share their experiences treating and helping young people and children who accessed medications, THC, and other adult-only substances within the home,” Lennox said. “They will also offer advice on how to prevent in-home access, how to talk to your kids about drug safety, and signs to look for when it comes to drug-seeking behavior.”
Lennox explained the CARE Coalition works in prevention, whereas other organizations work in treatment or slowing addiction. They aim to serve “every young person in our schools,” said Lennox.
She said they decided to host this event as the “opioid epidemic is not going anywhere.” Lennox continued, “We want parents to know, and we want people to know, it’s an important topic.”
Though many are familiar with the harm that opioid addiction does to society, Lennox said some don’t realize that drug abuse is coming directly from at-home medicine cabinets. As doctors become more aware of the risks, they now know that they can’t over-prescribe medication just because a patient wants it, said Lennox.
Lennox said she hopes this virtual session serves as an “educational platform,” for parents to learn about what can happen to their children.
“You might trust your kids, but what if they have friends over, or they’re in withdrawal?” Lennox continued. “We want to raise awareness to lock things up and take some time, count pills, throw out, or put a lock on your medicine cabinet.”
Although this doesn’t seem like a big favor to ask, Lennox said it’s something that many don’t think of doing or forget to do.
Apart from the topic of opioids, panelists will also speak about legalized marijuana, as the drug becomes more available in more formats. They will also discuss alcohol, as this is a “socially accepted form of relaxation,” said Lennox.
In fact, Lennox shared that with opioids and alcohol, the majority of the time, first exposure is within their homes; “We want to raise awareness around that.”
Typically, town hall-style meetings take place in-person, with an opportunity for participants to ask questions, though because of COVID-19, the CARE Coalition decided to host this seminar virtually. This is their second town hall meeting.
Although the session is designed for parents, Lennox believes it could be beneficial to teenagers to attend, as well, as the topic is directed around them.
Advance registration is required to attend. The registration link can be found at zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrce-orj8uHdOSLRgPfIt11G6N-Bwidl_1. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with log-in information.
The meeting is set to run from 7 to 8 p.m., but panelists will stay on the Zoom call until all questions are answered. The meeting will be moderated by Ray Hershel.
For additional information or questions on this session, contact Ananda Lennox at alennox@wsps.org.