Somerville Will Be Site Of 'Let's Talk' Workshop About Drug Misuse

SOMERVILLE, MA — Somerville Prevention Services is presenting the Let's Talk workshop on Tuesday, which is designed to help caregivers speak to children about drugs.

The workshop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Central Library, located at 79 Highland Ave, and caregivers of children of all ages are invited. Space is limited to 50 participants, so sign-up is recommended and available online.

According to Matthew Mitchell, prevention services manager for Somerville Prevention Services, the program was piloted as a virtual event this past fall.

Mitchell said participants will learn about individual substances and best practices for initiating and sustaining conversations with youth about substance misuse. Attendees also will have an opportunity to practice how to have conversations through role-playing scenarios.

The workshop will be run by Lily Dolyak, substance misuse prevention coordinator for Somerville Health and Human Services, and Kristen Strelis, substance use prevention and intervention specialist for Somerville Public Schools.

"Having proactive conversations with youth about substance use can help set expectations as an adult caregiver and remind youth that you can be a reliable support," Mitchell said. "Our hope is to help equip caregivers with the skills to broach conversations early and confidently while encouraging an open dialogue about a topic that can often be difficult to start due to stigma."

Mitchell said Somerville Prevention Services hopes to roll out future Let's Talk workshops conducted in Spanish and Portuguese speakers.