Parenting for Prevention Program Tuesday Night

Sunday kicks off Tewksbury’s Substance Use Prevention and Education Week to help raise public awareness as Tewksbury continues to face and fight the increasing indiscriminate substance abuse epidemic within the community.

On Tuesday, Oct. 28, as part of this week-long event, a program is being offered, designed for parents and caregivers of children in grades K-12. This forum is free and open to all.

Since Jan. 1, Tewksbury has seen 56 overdoses and seven related deaths and officials are working together to raise public awareness as a crucial weapon in this battle.

The Parenting for Prevention program will be facilitated by professionals in the field of addiction treatment. The program objectives are to provide information on the effects and consequences of gateway drugs and other drug trends, empower parents with effective communication skills when talking with their children about alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, to review the importance of establishing clear rules and consequences at home regarding substance use, and to evaluate resiliency factors that help protect kids from substance use, and local resources should parents require addiction support.

The program takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. at the John F. Ryan Elementary School Library, located at 135 Pleasant St. Light refreshments will be served.