Local parents learned how to identify and combat drug use among youth during the “Above the Influence” event held at the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Hollister on May 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. They were also encouraged to join a community effort to help youngsters make healthy choices.
When parents entered the building, they were greeted by County Superintendent of Schools Krystal Lomanto. Packets filled with papers that included resource guides, informational pamphlets about drugs, and printouts of PowerPoint presentations that were shown throughout the event were handed out.
Representatives from the San Benito County Office of Education, San Benito County Behavioral Health Services, Youth Alliance, Hollister Police Department, San Benito County Sheriff, Gang Prevention Policy Committee, and San Benito Public Health Department were in attendance as well.
The first presentation was given by Jason Scimeca, a deputy resource officer in San Benito County, a UNET task force agent and a resource officer for the Morgan Hill Police Department. His presentation described six common drugs, their affects, signs of drug use among teens, how teens abuse the substances and how most of these drugs — marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine/synthetic cathinones, ecstasy, cough suppressants, and synthetic opioids such as heroin — are often socially accepted.
After Scimeca’s presentation, Josh Martinez told his story.
He explained how as a teenager he started experimenting with marijuana, and from that point it escalated to stronger and lethal drugs. He noted that his drug of choice was oxycontin. He said he was a “functional addict” who “ruined everything I touched.”
Martinez explained how he finally found the help he so desperately needed: After six months at a church-funded treatment center, he said his life was turned completely around. He ended his speech with a few words of advice to students: “Don’t just fit in; it’s not cool,” he explained. “Stand up, be bold… you won’t look cool when you look like those pictures,” referring to the drug addict photos that were shown to the audience.”
The last presenter of the evening was Allen McClellan, whose message revolved around keeping homes safe by keeping drugs and alcohol out of the reach of teenagers, and how to communicate about the impact of drugs and alcohol with young people.
“Be aware of what’s going on in your children’s lives,” McClellan said. “It’s important to talk to them.”
Before people were dismissed, Lomanto held a short question-and-answer period where people could ask questions anonymously by submitting them on cards.
She explained an “Above the Influence Task Force,” a group of people committed to working with the community, including parents, children and schools to prevent drug use. The meetings for the task force will be held in the San Benito County Office of Education offices on Fifth Street in Hollister. Parents are expected to be main contributors to the program, but Lomanto stated that volunteers are welcome to contribute as well.
“We’re excited to move forward,” Lomanto said, encouraging people to join the task force. “The more people we have for this effort, the more lives we might save.”
For more information, call the San Benito County Office of Education at 831-637-5393 or click here.