Bedford Invited to 'Continue the Conversation' About Drug-Free Lives Oct. 25

BEDFORD, NH — BeBOLD (Bedford Building Our Lives Drug-free) in partnership with McKelvie Intermediate School is hosting a “Continue the Conversation” event from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at McKelvie Intermediate School. This event is a follow up to BeBOLD and McKelvie’s successful “Start the Conversation” event held last March. The October 25, event is geared towards parents who have children in grades four to six.

The keynote speaker will be Diane Vaccarello, owner and therapist at Bedford Family Therapy and BeBOLD committee member, according to a press statement. Vaccarello will be discussing strategies for parents on how to talk to their kids about tobacco, drugs and alcohol. She will also be discussing the effects of drugs and alcohol on the preadolescent brain and why it is so important that parents have a clear message to their kids about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol.

Vaccarello will be joined by Sara Cassin, McKelvie Health Educator and McKelvie School Counselors, Priscilla McGinty and Jodi Parsons.

Studies show that if parents start talking to their kids at an early age, kids will be less likely to try alcohol and drugs.

“Many parents are unaware that they should be talking to their fourth-, fifth- or sixth-grader about drugs," Vaccarello noted. "In fact, this is the best time to start talking to them."

“Diane spoke at our event last March and was very well received,” said Mike Fournier, principal at McKelvie Intermediate School and BeBOLD committee member. “Our feedback from last spring’s event was that parents wanted to hear more information about how to talk with their children as well as how anxiety plays a role in adolescent decision-making."

For additional information and events, please visit BeBOLD’s Facebook page or their website at beboldbedford.org.

BeBOLD is a drug awareness, education and prevention coalition in Bedford. The coalition includes parent and youth volunteers, local police and school district professionals who care about our community. BeBOLD’s mission is to prevent substance abuse in the Bedford community by educating Bedford’s adults and youth about the current dangers of all kinds of substance abuse, including alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs and tobacco.

Submitted by Tracey Bell.