Crime & Safety
Heroin Community Forum In Wilmette
Local parent of a heroin addict to speak about spotting warning signs at library Thursday.
WILMETTE, IL — The Wilmette Police Department has witnessed an increase in heroin use among young adults in the community. The increase has been evident in calls involving drug overdoses related to heroin, criminal incidents related to heroin use, and--unfortunately--heroin related deaths. Our experience is consistent with municipalities all around the Chicago metropolitan area that have reported similar increases. Frankly, heroin is cheaper and more readily available to our youth now than in any time in our recent history; perhaps more significantly, young adults do not comprehend the destructive nature of this drug.
On May 11th, the Wilmette Police Department in partnership with the Wilmette Public Library will host a forum on heroin use at the Wilmette Public Library. The forum is geared towards educating parents of young adults on the current dynamics of this trend and, more importantly, to convey prevention and intervention strategies.
Police officials will be on hand to discuss the current data and provide information on the signs and symptoms of heroin addiction. A local parent of a heroin addicted youth will speak on the warning signs that were missed and the lessons learned along the way. Finally, the police social worker and substance abuse counselors will identify resources available to the victims and their families.
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Though the number of young adults experimenting with heroin may reflect a relatively small percentage of the community, the effect on families inflicted with heroin use is absolutely devastating. An addicted user in a recovery program was quoted as saying that she was simply not aware of the danger. The goal of this program is to arm parents with information so that they are empowered to start a dialogue with their children and, hopefully, save other families from a similar fate.
» via the Wilmette Public Library & the Wilmette Police Department
Find out what's happening in Wilmette-Kenilworthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Community Forum: Heroin Use in the Community
Wilmette Public Library
Thursday, May 11, 2017
7:00pm
Top photo | Patch File
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