As they move from elementary to middle school and high school, many kids worry they won’t fit in – and sometimes, the combination of peer pressure and the availability of drugs can tempt even a “good” kid to make bad choices.

At an upcoming free parent education forum, the Lemont Police Department hopes to arm parents with the knowledge and tools they need to both monitor and guide their children to help them make safe, healthy–and good–choices.  

“Pre/Teen Drug Use: How to Know? How to Protect?” Will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, at Old Quarry Middle School at 16100 127^th St. The event will feature professionals sharing information on current teen drugs of choice, signs and symptoms of drug use, parenting tips and cautionary tales relating how drugs can affect even the best families.

“Illegal drugs can be found in any community in America,” said Lemont Police Chief Kevin Shaughnessy, who is hosting the forum. “Lemont is not immune. Parents need to be aware of the causes and signals of illegal drug use among our youth. Drugs do destroy lives!”

The parent education forum will feature several guest speakers who will share their expertise and give parents opportunities to ask questions. Scheduled speakers include:

• Master Sgt. Victor Markowski of the Illinois State Police, a narcotics expert
• Roseann Rook, CADC, addictions counselor at Timberline Knolls, providing parenting tips
• John Roberts, co-founder of HERO (Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization), who lost a child to heroin use
• Lt. Col. Terry Lemming of the Illinois State Police, who will put the issue in a state-wide perspective

For more information contact Lemont Police Sgt. Therese Thompson at 630-257-2229 or email tthompson@lemont.il.us.

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