Holley to welcome substance abuse educators

Informing parents of the signs, symptoms and patterns of substance abuse in their child is the topic of an upcoming meeting being sponsored by the Holley Central School District.

Betty Drennan, Holley Board of Education member, said, "It’s never too late to talk with your teens … it’s never too early either."

This will be the second Community Drug Awareness presentation the district has hosted, she said. The meeting’s informal presentation style will focus on the signs a parent should be looking for in their teen. Participants will learn to identify indicators that may signal that a child is experimenting with both illegal, and legal, substances. Drennan said it is not just drugs and alcohol that students are experimenting with now. "They are sniffing white-out, markers, using compact disc cases to smoke marijuana and other household items that you just wouldn’t think of," she said.

A special question and answer session format will allow parents the opportunity to ask, or write out, their concerns so the presenters may answer each on an individual basis.

The evening’s presenters will be Gary Metz, coordinator of the Alcohol/Substance Abuse Studies for SUNY Brockport, and David Monk, associate director of law enforcement programs at Monroe Community College’s Public Safety Center. "These gentlemen were our presenters at the conference we had previously," Drennan said. "They did a wonderful presentation and encouraged role playing."

The role playing involves teaching parents how to talk to their children, and helping parents find answers to questions such as, "I found something suspicious ... what do I do now?"

Beverages and cookies will be served during the evening’s informal "It’s Never Too Late to Talk to Your Children About Drugs" session. The session begins at 7 p.m. in the High School Library on Thursday, December 12.

The session is open to adults only. Contact Sue Menga, Holley Central School at 638-6335 for information.