Rep. Carter Participates in “Dare to Talk About Drugs” Community Forum

On Wednesday night State Rep. Dan Carter (R-2) joined the Newtown Parent Connection for an informational presentation and open forum with Bethel parents about the dangers of alcohol and drug use among kids.

The event, which took place at Bethel High School, featured a slideshow by John Hamilton, a licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Recovery Network of Programs.

Mr. Hamilton warned that studies have shown alcohol consumption among Connecticut teenagers is 26%-28% higher than among teenagers nationwide. He also stated that between 25%-50% of 10th-12th graders reported using marijuana, which has become 175% more potent over the last twenty years.

The program was prompted by the untimely deaths of several Bethel High School graduates who succumbed to heroin and other drug overdoses in recent years.

“This meeting was a great first step as we seek to proactively and holistically address this quiet but growing crisis among young people using drugs and alcohol,” Rep. Carter said. “I’m hopeful that this is just the beginning of a dialogue within our community about how we can combat the unhealthy choices our kids are becoming more and more susceptible to.”

In addition to the Newtown Parent Connection, sponsorship for the event was also provided by the Bethel Teen Center and the Bethel Board of Education.

For more on the information presented during the forum, parents can visit the Newtown Parent Connection website at http://www.newtownparentconnection.org/