Prevention Events

Council Sponsors Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking

Parents, teachers and others are welcome to attend May 31 program at Maple Point Middle School

Individuals who start drinking before the age of 15 are more than six times more likely to develop alcohol problems than those who don’t drink until after they are 21. The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., invites parents and other community members to “Start Talking Before They Start Drinking” on Thursday, May 31, from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Maple Point Middle School, 2250 Langhorne-Yardley Rd., Langhorne.

This town hall meeting on underage drinking will feature, “This Place,” a 15-minute film that dramatically captures today’s youth drinking culture and the impact of underage drinking. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more young people use alcohol than any other drug, including tobacco and marijuana. In 2010, some 10 million 12- to 20-year-olds, or more than one in four, reported drinking.

The program will also include a panel presentation and question-and-answer period. The panel will be comprised of representatives from law enforcement, the medical community, a prevention specialist, a person in recovery, a parent and a concerned youth.

The program is sponsored by The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania and hosted by Neshaminy School District. Funding is provided by SAMHSA.

The program is free, and the public is invited. For information, contact David Fialko, prevention specialist, at 215-230-8218, ext. 3162, or email dfialko@councilsepa.org.

• Townhall Meeting 2012 Flyer

For more information on the SAMHSA town hall meetings, visit www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/townhallmeetings.

Women's Day of Recovery Support

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., and the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc., invite mothers in recovery from substance abuse issues to participate in a day of building stronger skills and interacting with their children at a “Women’s Day of Recovery Support.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for women in recovery to connect with other women in the recovery community and to learn practical skills that can help them build their self-esteem and increase the likelihood of sustaining long-term recovery,” said Beverly Haberle, executive director of The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.

The day-long program features workshops on a wide range of topics, including families and substance abuse, communication, confrontation and problem solving, managing stress, setting boundaries and guiding behavior. While mothers attend the workshop sessions, their children will participate in other activities. The last session of the day is dedicated to the topic of “having fun,” and mothers and children will work together on an activity or craft. The day also includes morning refreshments and a luncheon for the mothers and their children.

Participants will also receive resources and materials to use on their own.

The next workshop is scheduled for Sun. May 20, from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Central Bucks Family YMCA, 2500 Lower State Rd., Doylestown. The program will be repeated on Sat., June 16. Participants from any of the workshop days will be invited back for a picnic at Peace Valley Park at the end of June.

• Women in Recovery Day of Support Flyer

The program is free, but registration is required. To register, contact Diane Catherwood at 215-230-8218, ext. 3185 or email at DCatherwood@councilsepa.org