HYANNIS – The 6th annual Community Substance Abuse Prevention Forum was held Tuesday evening at Barnstable High School.
The event, presented by the Barnstable Youth Commission, informed families and community members about the presence of drugs among the youth of the town and what is being done to combat the problem.
The Barnstable Youth Commission is made up of both high school students as well as other town representatives, appointed by the town council.
Members of the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office presented information on the dangers of substances such as alcohol, marijuana, and opioids.
Youth Program Director for the department Shaun Cahill mentioned the consistent presence of youth alcohol use throughout the years.
“Alcohol is probably still the biggest problem that we have in this country, not just here on the Cape,” Cahill said.
With the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts, Cahill also spoke about what lies ahead for those who are using the drug.
“I think you’re going to see marijuana use with teens go up dramatically, just like alcohol, because it’s a legal drug and all of a sudden, marijuana is,” he said.
“I think it will follow right along.”
Members of the Barnstable Police Department, as well as local health care professionals, were also on hand to teach parents how to talk to their kids about substance use.
To learn more about the Barnstable Youth Commission, visit www.townofbarnstable.us/youthservices.
About Brendan Fitzpatrick
