Kane’s juvenile drug court holding prevention forum

Submitted by Kane County Juvenile Drug Court

Kane County’s Juvenile Drug Court program recognizes the growing concerns related to substance abuse and the difficulties individuals and families have accessing community resources. For that reason, the Juvenile Drug Court will sponsor the “Substance Abuse Prevention Forum 2012” from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, at the Norris Cultural Center, 1020 Dunham Road, St. Charles.

This forum will bring together; parents who have lost their children to substance abuse, substance abusers, recovering addicts, law enforcement agencies, substance abuse providers, and other community resources to provide individuals and families an opportunity to ask questions and educate themselves about the growing epidemic of substance abuse.

Speakers will include:

타 Karen Dobner, who started To the Maximus Foundation, a nonprofit group to educate and inform others about the dangers of synthetic drugs, after her 19-year-old son smoked synthetic marijuana shortly before he drove his car at speeds over 100 mph, crashed into a house and died.

타 Dr. Mann Spitler whose 20-year-old daughter Manda died after she injected herself with a lethal dose of heroin in the family home. Spitler started Manda’s Story in an attempt to prevent drug abuse and addiction.

타 Doug Petit, who founded Parents and Teens Together after his 16-year-old son Jonathan died from drowning in a retention pond after attending a party and getting intoxicated. He has been talking to teens and parents about underage drinking since Jonathan’s death.

타 Elizabeth Johnson, assistant state’s attorney in Will County, will discuss her struggles with substance abuse before her decision to enroll in a Drug Court Program and how it changed her life.

Legal facts also will be provided by Kane County state’s attorney Joe McMahon and Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez. McMahon will discuss the legal consequences of substance abuse in the criminal justice system. Perez will talk about the implications of substance abuse related to law enforcement.

Kane County area treatment providers — from Breaking Free, Gateway, and the Renz Center — will be present to answer any questions.

There will be no cost to attend the forum. Call Diana Uchiyama, juvenile drug court coordinator, at (630) 444-3173 for more information.