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Representing the group Community Partners
Against Substance Abuse Coalition (CPASAC) from left to right are Randy
Singleton, Tina Dolder, Janice Wamhoff, Kerri Hicks, and Brian Duran.
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Parents tooled in
awareness when kids might be experimenting with
substances
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[September 22, 2017] LINCOLN
- On Saturday a free interactive live exhibit was set up during the ALMH
Market for parents and those over age 18 to see how substance abuse may
be hidden in plain sight.
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In the exhibit area participants walked through a
mock teenager bedroom which held several drug and alcohol related
substances hidden in plain sight.
The exhibit was provided and set up by the Community Partners
Against Substance Abuse Coalition in Bureau and Putnam Counties. The
ALMH Community Health Collaborative Opiod Task Force, and Lincoln
and Logan County Crime Stoppers sponsored the event. DARE Officer
Christy Fruge was also there with an exhibit showing substances
which parents need to be made aware.
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Around the market were other exhibits and signs showing statistics
from an Illinois youth survey on how many and how often teens in
Logan County have experimented with drugs or alcohol.
After the tour, Janice Wamhoff of Community Partners Against
Substance Abuse Coalition (CPASAC) gave a brief presentation on what
to look for. Wamhoff said the coalition has been around for eight
years and has fifty members who meet monthly to help combat
substance abuse.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Sep/20/images/ads/current/cca_laptop-sda021709.png)
Wamhoff showed parents what to look for if you suspect your child
might be abusing substances. She said that by high school, a number
of teens have experimented with drugs or alcohol, so it is important
to be aware of possible problems.
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jan/26/images/ads/current/Symphony_lda_2017.png)
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Wamhoff said it is important for parents to start talking to kids
when they are young. You need to ask yourself, "What are they
doing?" and "Who are they hanging out with?" Wamhoff said it is
important to pay attention to what your kids are doing and who they
spend time with.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Sep/20/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
Wamhoff said that bedroom belongs to you and you have every right to
go into their bedroom and see what is going on. She said walking
through the room and seeing something you are concerned about does
not indicate they are doing anything, but "it is a perfect
opportunity for you guys to sit down and have a discussion with your
children as to what is going on in their life."
Brochures set out in front of CPASA exhibit shared myths and facts
about underage drinking and drug use with the reminder that parents
are "the first line of defense when it comes to your child's drug
use or drinking."
Once the presentation was over, ALMH Marketing and Community
Partnerships Manager Angela Stoltzenburg encouraged people to look
at the county statistics posted around the market. Stoltzenburg said
it is important for you to know what is happening here. You need to
know what the kids are up to.
[Angela Reiners]
For more
information see:
2016 Illinois Youth Survey, Logan County
Report
Community Partners Against Substance Abuse - CPASA |