By: Bill O’Connell
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
The Swanton Area Coalition Committee (SACC), with the support of over twenty local businesses, has teamed with local law enforcement agencies and the Fulton County Prosecutor’s office to hold a Town Hall Meeting at the Swanton American Legion on May 23, 2016 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. The main topic will Youth Substance Abuse and will be hosted by Fulton County Prosecutor Scott Haselman. Admission is free and many businesses have donated gifts that will be given away with free raffles during the evening.
In addition to Mr. Haselman there will be representatives from several law enforcement agencies including the Multi-Area Narcotics (MAN) Unit that serves Northwest Ohio. The timing of the event is key with the high school graduation season fast approaching and the explosion of celebratory graduation parties that, too often, carry the potential of underage alcohol consumption or illegal drug use.
“This is more of a statement of the community coming together with all these different entities and saying, ‘Hey, there is a problem’”, said SACC Executive Director Andrea Smith.
One of the biggest problems SACC faces is the denial of many parents and other community members that drug and alcohol abuse among their young people even goes on. “Not my family” or “Not my child” are words used every day by many parents or family members refusing to even consider this scourge could ever impact their lives.
The speakers at this event, which will include recovering addicts/alcoholics, will be there to inject a dose of reality into the conversation and to encourage parents and educators to remove their blinders and look for symptoms of abuse.
Ms. Smith and SACC Director of Youth Programming, Jill Fink, are hoping, not only for this event to be heavily attended, but for those attending to come with an open mind and be ready to listen. What they hear on this night may have a life-changing and potentially a life-saving impact. For more information, you can call 419-826-1222 or e-mail SwantonCoalition@gmail.com
Bill O’Connell may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com