With so many drug overdoses and deaths of people in Bethel Township, the Drug Task Force will hold its Annual Symposium at Tecumseh High School this year on September 21 from 6-9 pm.

Focusing on the issue of the addiction itself, the group is bringing back Dr. Brad Lander, head of Clinical psychology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Last year he gave us a clear understanding of how heroin and other drugs change the brain and as the addict keeps using makes him unable to quit—and when the brain is changed so much, his life is devastated. Dr. Landers’ hope for us was to form a task force to help fight this disaster and to work to encourage parents and law enforcement to get rid of the drug dealers, and open up recovery hopes for those who are addicted.

“When the Bethel Township Task Force began last year, our hope was to solve this problem very quickly”, stated Alan Hodges, spokesman for FYI and has been to many of the monthly meetings. “We felt if we offered services and encouraged the police to do something, all would be well.” But as we look at the statistics, we are losing the battle. We have got to do more.”

This year’s symposium hopes to do just that. With an appearance of Attorney General, Mike DeWine, discussion will be held about how to be more pro-active, how to get the community more involved, and how to help those who want to be in recovery.

Family and Youth Initiatives is hosting the symposium to get more awareness of the challenges in the community and some possible solutions to make our community that does not tolerate this kind of epidemic. The public – teen to adult—are encouraged to attend and learn more, then to understand the reason why we must fight hard to save even more people from dying. Please mark your calendars and come to Tecumseh High School Wed. September 21 to hear about how you can help. Call FYI for any questions—845-0403.