Putnam County District Attorney Adam Levy will host a Drug Education Forum from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at Haldane High School.

“There is no denying the extent of the heroin crisis in our community, and people are clamoring for information,” Levy said. “Our goals for this evening are to provide accurate information to the members of our community about the current crisis, provide practical tools to navigate the treatment options available, provide a detailed explanation about how parents and family members can partner with the criminal justice system to help a loved one overcome a drug addiction, and to honestly answer all questions.”

Panelists for the forum include Putnam County Supreme Court Judge Victor Grossman, Putnam County Court Judge James F. Reitz and District Attorney Adam Levy. They will discuss what options are available to help families navigate the court system when drug addiction takes hold of a loved one, and how the Putnam County Treatment Court Program is designed to help non-violent felony offenders address their drug addiction and maintain sobriety.

“There’s a misconception that parents need to shelter their kids from ‘the system,’ even where the signs of drug abuse are evident,” Levy said “We want to educate the residents of Putnam about the resources available and the specific steps a parent can take to help a child who is suffering from addiction. It’s time to open up the dialogue, be honest with ourselves and find ways to get ahead of the drug plague in this county.”

Also presenting will be representatives from the Putnam County Department of Probation, Putnam County Department of Mental Health, National Council on Alcoholism & Other Drug Dependencies, Law Enforcement, and addiction experts from local treatment facilities who will provide attendees with useful and practical information needed to help a family member plot a course to sobriety. The evening will conclude with a question and answer period so parents and other involved community members can have their concerns addressed.

The event will take place in the auditorium at Haldane High School from 6 to 8 p.m. The district attorney would like to acknowledge the assistance of County Executive MaryEllen Odell and Haldane Interim Superintendent John Chambers for their assistance in helping put on this event.

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