Know the Truth Announces 2017 Community Forums
October 18 2017 - 1:40PM
Business Wire
Dakota and Steele County to host four
parent-education events with interactive exhibit in October and
November
Know the Truth, the substance-use prevention program of
Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge, will once again host a series
of community forums to educate parents about teen substance use.
This fall, Know the Truth will partner with Steele and Dakota
counties to host four educational events for parents and community
members, giving them an opportunity to hear firsthand how substance
use can affect their families and providing them with tools to
prevent it.
2017 Community Forum Dates:
Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017Eastview High SchoolApple Valley,
Minn.6 - 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017Diamondhead Education
CenterBurnsville, Minn.6 - 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017Owatonna High SchoolOwatonna,
Minn.6 - 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017Eastview High SchoolApple Valley,
Minn.6 - 8:30 p.m.
The community forums in Dakota and Steele counties will feature
an interactive exhibit from Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge,
“Cracking the Code on Teen Substance Use,” which debuted at this
year’s State Fair. The exhibit includes a virtual “visit” with a
person serving time for substance use and an interactive tour of
common hiding spots in a young person’s bedroom. Parents can learn
what signs of substance use to look for in teenagers’ bedrooms,
discover how to safeguard the family medicine cabinets, and hear
success stories from people who are in recovery.
“We believe in a multipronged approach to prevention,” says
Tracee Anderson, community engagement manager at Minnesota Adult
and Teen Challenge. “In addition to working in the schools
educating students about the risks of using drugs and alcohol, we
inform parents, teachers and community members about the most
current drug trends, signs to look for, and ways to intervene if
necessary. The county attorney, sheriff and local law enforcement
are always key members of the planning committee.”
Know the Truth began hosting community forums in Anoka County in
2014, after a significant increase in opioid overdoses. The events
were successful in reaching close to 1,000 community members.
“We’re hearing alarming statistics almost daily,” says Anderson.
“We want to educate as many parents and community members as
possible in order to prevent more families from experiencing tragic
losses. Every overdose is preventable.”
From 2015 to 2016, Minnesota saw a 9.2 percent increase in drug
overdose deaths. Prescription opioids are still the highest
overdose killer in Minnesota, however, methamphetamine overdoses
rose 60 percent in greater Minnesota. Even more alarming, Know the
Truth’s student survey from the 2016-2017 school year revealed that
28 percent of students who had reported illegal drug use, had used
prescriptions drugs.
“We have lost too many people to impaired driving and overdose
deaths,” says Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. “To spread
the word and prevent substance use, the Sheriff and I are proud to
support these educational forums in Dakota County.”
Steele County Attorney Daniel McIntosh says, “I am excited to
partner with Know the Truth to bring our community together to
continue our common fight against drug and alcohol use by young
people. We cannot win this fight without an orientation towards
preventing children from using chemicals. Bringing people together
to fight substance use is the strongest means we have to lessen the
impact of drugs and alcohol in our communities.”
Jodi Hanson, an administrator at Eastview High School adds,
“Imagine how effective we could be if we had parents, schools and
our community systems all working together toward the common goal
of safe, healthy, chemical-free kids.”
CEU’s are available for the Board of Nursing, Social Work,
Education and Behavioral Health.
About Know the TruthKnow the Truth (KTT) is the
substance-use prevention program of Minnesota Adult and Teen
Challenge. KTT works within Minnesota communities to help prevent
teenage substance use by sharing personal stories about struggles
with substance use and by presenting students with information
about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. Each year, KTT
speaks in more than 160 high schools and middle schools reaching
over 60,000 students.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171018006405/en/
Minnesota Adult and Teen ChallengeTracee Anderson,
715-441-4971Tracee.Anderson@mntc.orgorPineapple RMCassie
Roman, 262-510-5624cassie@pineapplerm.com