'Addiction' exhibit opens in Itasca
Itasca leaders think teaching teens about the dangers of drugs and alcohol is about more than telling them to just say no.
That is why the village is hosting a new, interactive exhibit, titled "What is Addiction?" at the Itasca Community Library through June 9. The display was donated to Itasca by Health World, a nonprofit children's health and safety provider, and is sponsored by village, library and police department.
Approximately 50 officials from Itasca and surrounding towns gathered Tuesday to preview the display's quizzes, computers, literature and video that document the journey of recovering teen addicts, different types of addictions and the science behind addiction. The exhibit officially opens today.
"We wanted to bring something that was a bit more than D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), something that helps these kids when they go into high school and shows that these choices have serious consequences - some you never come back from," said Rick Brogan, Itasca crime prevention officer.
Brogan has spent approximately four years working to make "What is Addiction" a reality in Itasca. It is one of only five in the country and was initially sponsored for Health World by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and its partner agency.
Visitors who check out "What is Addiction?" can learn about addictions that include illegal narcotics, prescription drugs, inhalants, alcohol, hoarding and gambling. To make their effects more real, teens can view displays like a simulated brain scan that shows the effects of drugs on neurological function.
The Itasca Police Department has also added updated features, such as a quiz that assesses how well visitors are able to identify illegal drug paraphernalia.
Ultimately, Itasca police hope the exhibit will be a learning tool for local school groups, schools and churches from surrounding suburbs and for individual visitors, too. Brogan said officials from towns like Carol Stream, Aurora and Glendale Heights have already expressed interest in bringing "What is Addiction?" to their residents in the future.
The exhibit is free to all visitors and open during regular hours at the Itasca Community Library, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays until Memorial Day. School groups that would like to schedule a tour should call Brogan at (630) 228-5705.
Parents who would like to receive a free drug test kit may also contact Brogan or e-mail police@itasca.com. Both can be done anonymously, if need be, Brogan said.