Prescription Drug Abuse the Focus for May 10th Panel Discussion

On Saturday, May 10^th, Youth Connect will convene a panel of experts to discuss the high rate of prescription drug abuse among teens, and how parents can proactively deal with the issue. Entitled, “When Child-Proof Caps Aren’t Enough: The Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic and What Parents Can Do,” the panel discussion will close out Youth Connect’s 2013-2014 calendar of events.  The presentation begins at 10 am, is free and open to the public, and takes place at the Sewickley Y’s Walter Brennan Community Activity Center, located near the paddle tennis courts off Blackburn Road.

                                                                                                                

The centerpiece of the event is the screening of a short but effective video by The Partnership at Drugfree.org. The Alliance Against Drugs, represented by executive director Debbie Kehoe, will be on-hand to talk about the film and the real-life issues the Alliance helps parents deal with when it comes to prescription drug abuse.  The film features a number of families who lived through having a child abuse prescription medications. Also on the panel are Officer Frank Lesniak with the Sewickley Police Department; members of QV Voice, a student-run organization that helps teens make smart decisions; and health care professionals who witness the effects of prescription drug abuse.

The Sewickley Police will also be collecting prescription drugs for disposal, so attendees are encouraged to bring any medications they wish to safely dispose of to the event.