Public Information Office 210 S. McDonald Street Suite 626 McKinney, Texas 75069 www.collincountytx.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 3, 2005

Collin County Substance Abuse Coalition to hold community forum
Coalition to discuss the latest trends in teen drug use

(Collin County, TX) – The Collin County Substance Abuse Coalition, a task force made up of various agencies including law enforcement, substance abuse agencies, school counselors, MADD and health care organizations, will hold a community forum on Thursday, October 13 from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church located at 1015 State Highway 121 in Allen. The purpose of the forum is to raise awareness of the trends in teen drug use and discuss how parents can recognize drug paraphernalia in their child’s room and in their vehicles.

The Coalition was formed last fall to increase the awareness of substance abuse in the county. One of the first issues the Coalition reviewed was the increase in methamphetamine and heroin use across the county and what steps needed to be taken to educate the public on the dangers of the drugs. So far this year, three Collin County teenagers died from drug-related causes.

“Frankly, three drug-related deaths within a nine-month period are too many,” said Courtney Pero, Plano Police Department. “We want to present parents with clear warning signs. We believe our mock teen room will do just that.”

In addition to a roundtable discussion, the Coalition will provide a re-creation of a drug-abusing teenager’s room.

“Oftentimes, parents can’t see the warning signs,” says Gayle Jensen-Savoie, Director of Seay Behavioral Health Center on the campus of Presbyterian Hospital of Plano. “We want parents of Collin County to have a better understanding of how to identify possible drug usage in their kids and the risks faced by their children.”

Methamphetamine, a drug that increases heart rate and other central nervous system activity, poses a problem because it is highly addictive and can be produced in home-based laboratories with over-the-counter cold medicines. Also a concern is that the drug is being used by populations not previously known to use it. Methamphetamine is just one of the drugs that will be discussed at the forum.

For more information on the community forum, please call the Collin County Substance Abuse Program at 972-548-5575.

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For a printer-friendly version of this information, please refer to the official Community Forum Flyer.