Forum focuses on local drug abuse, prevention

While much of the students, faculty and staff at Corbin High School are on an emotional high due to the recent success of the school’s basketball team, folks from as far away as McCreary County were on hand at the school Tuesday evening to talk about preventing a different kind of high.

Operation UNITE Director Karen Engle, along with the group’s Law Enforcement Director Dan Smoot, UK College of Medicine Professor Emeritus Dr. Patrick J. Sammon and Lexington-Fayette County Assistant Chief Mike Bosse presented the “Hot Drugs” workshop to help parents and teachers focus on local drugs of abuse and what they can possibly do to curb the problem.

Operation UNITE Director Karen Engle speaks during Tuesday night’s “Hot Drugs” Forum at Corbin High School.

The goal of the program was to provide valuable information about the drugs seen most often in the Tri-County area, how to recognize if a loved one may be abusing drugs and what to say and do once the abuse has surfaced.

Engle said she was pleased with the turnout, but admitted she didn’t know whether or not to expect such a large crowd.

“You never know what kind of turnout you are going to get at an event like this, but this really tells me that we have a concerned community and one hoping to make a difference,” Engle said. “We believe at UNITE that law enforcement, education and treatment are all important, but education has to lead the way before a community can change.

“Education in our school systems are very important, but that goes well beyond the walls of the school system and into the community,” she added. “The number one way to fight addiction is prevention and we really believe that.”
The program kicked off with a presentation by Sammon and Bosse, who explained how readily available drugs have become to young adults in the community today. Sammon explained that kids can get drugs from places parents never suspected.

“The easiest place to get them is in their own home,” Sammon said. “We have to be careful what we leave in our medicine cabinets, because we don’t expect that.

“If they don’t get them from our cabinets, where do you think they can get them,” he asked.
Sammon went on to explain they could get them from other people’s medicine cabinets.

Bosse, who is an assistant chief with the Lexington Police Department and was undercover for eight years of his career, also explained that drugs are just as easily available on the street as they are in the home.

“You can get just about anything off the street,” he said. “I was there and I know that if you have the money, you can get anything.”

The two stressed the importance of awareness, explaining the dangers and effects popular drugs such as Oxycontin, Vicodin, marijuana and even alcohol will have on the brain in the long run.

Engle said with everyone on the same page, aiming for the same goal, hopefully the program will hit the mark.

“These guys are really good and they do a great job with their presentation, Engle said. “It is informative and hits hard, so hopefully we will raise some awareness in the community and make a difference.”