OCONOMOWOC – A rise in heroin use among young people in Lake Country has prompted the Oconomowoc School District to partner with other concerned local groups in scheduling a public forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at The Oconomowoc Arts Center.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature speakers familiar with drug treatment, law enforcement and criminal justice, as well as individuals in recovery from heroin addiction and family members who lost a loved one through a drug overdose.
The Oconomowoc Arts Center is at 641 E. Forest St., Oconomowoc. Prior to the program, audience members may access information on prevention, education and treatment at a Resource Fair, which begins at 6 p.m. The event is recommended for people aged 12 and older.
Featured speakers:
- Paul Raddatz, local father of an overdose victim
- Judge Timothy Kay, Lake Country Municipal Court Judge
- Chris Kohl, Waukesha Metro Drug Unit Detective
- Chris Gleason, Director, Rosecrance McHenry County
- Your Choice – A Family’s Journey to Recovery
The event is co-sponsored by the Oconomowoc Area School District, Rosecrance Health Network, Oconomowoc Parent Education Network, Your Choice, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department and Lake Country Municipal Court.
National studies show that about 40 percent of teens will use marijuana before they finish high school. Research has shown a link between early marijuana use and later use of prescription drugs and, increasingly, heroin use, which can be deadly. Research also shows that use goes down when parents are educated on the topic and involved in their kids’ lives.
For more information, contact Kathleen.Westerman@mail.oasd.k12.wi.us or Scott Bakkum at 262-560-3123.
Read more about the event in the Oconomowoc Focus.
Register for the free event at http://stairwaytoheroin.eventbrite.com.