Substance Abuse Panel Discussion Set For February 7

By Tanjua Damon

The pressures teenagers experience can be overwhelming not only for the child, but also for the parents. The Newtown High School Parent, Student, Teacher Association is holding a community style meeting on February 7 to discuss some of those pressures relating to substance abuse.

On Wednesday, February 7, at 7:30 pm in the Lecture Hall at Newtown High School, the entire Newtown community, parents and children, are invited to attend the panel discussion entitled “An Informative Community Panel: Substance and Today’s Teens.”

Panel members will include William Manfredonia, NHS Principal; Judy Blanchard, K-12 health coordinator; Officers Bob Koetsch and Gladys Pisianti; Pam Crowcroft, certified drug counselor; Steve Gordon, minister Newtown Congregational Church; and Newtown Youth Services.

Monica DeFeo, president of the NHS PTSA, hopes that parents will come to learn about substance abuse and how to better communicate with your children to help them make good decisions.

“We want to let people know what is going on with substance abuse and drugs. How can we help our children to make the right decisions and choices through their school years and even on through college?” Mrs DeFeo said. “We’ve geared this to have something for everyone from elementary to college.”

Mrs DeFeo hopes that the panel will help parents and even students to be informed of what is happening with drugs in today’s world.

“We need to be better informed as parents to what is happening in our community,” she said. “It’s a communitywide issue.”

William Manfredonia, principal at Newtown High School and a panel member, knows that the issue has been around for years, but wants to help parents to be informed.

“Drugs, drinking, and teenagers have been around for a long time,” Mr Manfredonia said. “We are fighting this huge money making machine. Our goal is to inform parents of what’s going on to help our students be safe. If you wait until high school, it’s too late. We’re all in this together.”

The Newtown Police Department will be supplying a “drug board” so that the audience can view some of today’s drugs.

“Being informed is the first step to guide your child properly,” Mrs DeFeo said. “It’s about making those choices.”

Panelists will discuss many substance issues including signs and symptoms, legal issues, and consequences. There will also be a question/answer period for the audience.

“Our goal is to share our information,” Mr Manfredonia said. “If your gut is saying there is a problem, maybe parents can get together to keep our students safe. We have really good students. We have great families. We want to give them the tools to deal with the pressure.”

Parents of elementary, middle school, and high school students as well as their children are encouraged to attend the discussion on Wednesday, February 7, at 7:30 pm at the Lecture Hall at Newtown High School.