'Hidden, High & Hammered' Program For Montco Parents Thursday

UPPER MORELAND, PA — Parents in this eastern Montgomery County community will have a chance to learn about the warning signs of student inebriation during a program Thursday put on by a veteran police officer.

The Upper Moreland Police Department and Upper Moreland School District will jointly host "Hidden, High and Hammered" on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The program, which will be conducted virtually online, is designed to give parents information about student drug and alcohol consumption.

"This FREE virtual presentation highlights the warning signs and dangers of drug, vape and alcohol abuse in teens," reads a description about the program.

A flyer about the program says that it "takes the old 'Mock Teen Bedroom' to an entirely new level."

"In this program, parents will learn indicators of poor lifestyle choices and develop skills to help identify a child before a crisis occurs," the flyer reads.

The program will be led by veteran police officer Beth J. Sanborn, who has been with the neighboring Lower Gwynedd Police Department since 1997.

Sanborn, who also possesses a doctorate degree, has served as a school resource officer in the Wissahickon School District and she also holds the title of juvenile detective.

Sanborn also volunteers with the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth and with the Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center.

During Thursday's program, Sanborn will offer parents insight into various youth behavior when it comes to drug and alcohol use, including instruction on devices meant to "confuse and conceal," what to know about certain vape devices and other drug paraphernalia, and the evolution of marijuana and alcoholic beverages as well as deceptive advertising.

On her website, Sanborn states that working with teenagers during the course of her career has given her the opportunity to become educated about various products in the drug paraphernalia sphere that are often marketed to underage youth.

"My goal is to educate parents, teachers, and concerned adults of the behavioral signs to look for and the products designed to encourage poor lifestyle choices," Sanborn writes on her website.

A section of the website details the history of "Hidden, High and Hammered," which Sanborn says will empower parents, guardians, teachers and social service workers to identify teens who may be in crisis "so we can intervene before the crisis is reached."

The hour-long program includes a lecture as well as hands-on, "interactive product manipulation."

In addition to items like vape products, the presentation will also touch on drinks infused with cannabis, edible candies containing THC (the compound in marijuana that gives a psychoactive affect), and various stashing devices designed to conceal paraphernalia.

Sanborn sits on the executive board of the Pennsylvania Association of School Resource Officers, is an instructor for the National Association of School Resource Officers and is a director and policy fellow for the International Center for Law Enforcement Studies.

Anyone interested in attending Thursday's program can send an email to pcordura@uppermoreland.org.