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Forum on heroin addiction a part of Red Ribbon Week

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Photo courtesy of Carissa Anthony.

Red ribbons will be placed on lampposts throughout the Homewood during the week of Oct. 26. The Safe & Healthy Homewood Coalition and Homewood City Schools campaign seeks to spread awareness about the dangers of teen drug use.

Throughout the week, Homewood High School Peer Helpers will share positive messages about making healthy choices regarding drugs and alcohol at elementary schools and Homewood Middle School, which will all hold other programs throughout the week as well. 

Also as a part of Red Ribbon Week Oct. 26-30, the coalition is hosting a public forum, Pills to Needles: A Pathway to Heroin Addiction, on Oct. 29. It will run 8-9:15 a.m. at Homewood Board of Education, 450 Dale Ave. Light breakfast items will be provided for attendees. 

Three panelists will talk about the link between prescription drug use and heroin addiction. 

“Most of the time this type of stuff begins with people taking pain medications and progresses from there,” said Carissa Anthony of Safe & Healthy Homewood Coalition. 

The panel, moderated by Paul DeMarco, will feature District Attorney Brandon Falls; Susan Brawley, who lost her son to heroin overdose; and Angela Camp of Bradford Health Services. Camp will speak to what parents can do, how to recognize signs and symptoms, and how to get your child help. 

“[The program] will progress from prevention to signs and symptoms and how you can intervene appropriately,” Anthony said. 

Safe & Healthy Homewood Coalition held a similar program two years ago. 

“We are focusing on this because of the heroin epidemic. We don’t’ necessarily see it at the high schools, but we do know HHS students are using prescription medications at a rate higher than national average. We have to be aware of where this can lead us and come together to stop it before it begins. Nationwide, we are seeing heroin deaths outpace traffic fatalities.”

For more information on National Red Ribbon Week, visit redribbon.org.

Pills to Needles: A Pathway to Heroin Addiction

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