Community forum to focus on drug trends, tips for parents

A Community Drug Forum will be from 6:45 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17 at the Arcada Theater, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles.

Recent Roosevelt University research reveals that Chicago and suburbs were considered No. 1 for heroin in the nation and more research from National Institute on Drug Abuse states that drug use among teens and young adults is increasing.

In towns throughout the Fox River Valley, many families are dealing with loved ones struggling with life threatening addictions.

Hearts of Hope was given a grant by the St. Charles Youth Commission to put on a Community Drug Forum to open up dialogue and to bring awareness and education to others about this very real and disturbing problem.

Teens and young adults who find themselves in the grip of addiction, a disease that is chronic, progressive and ultimately fatal, need intervention occurs and treatment.

This Community Drug Forum will address current drug trends, signs and symptoms of drug use, how parents can talk more effectively to their kids about the dangers of drugs, the science of the underdeveloped and vulnerable “Teen Brain,” drug prevention tips, practical tools to equip parents with resources and how to intervene if a problems exists.

Speakers include Dr. Ken Winters, leading scientist, researcher and lecturer on Adolescent Drug Prevention, Intervention and Treatment from Treatment Research Institute in Philadelphia; Tom Hedrick, founding member of Partnership for a Drug-Free America; a mother of a teenager who died to heroin overdose; and a young person in recovery. GFRVC of Operation Snowball will be performing as well as local artist Brian Keys. There will be a question-and-answer session at the end of the evening and lots of resources and materials for our guests to take with them.

Hearts of Hope is a nonprofit prevention, intervention, support and advocacy organization that has been serving Kane and surrounding counties since 2002.