Town Hall meeting to focus on underage drinking

Underage drinking is a concern across the country and communities in Clearwater County are among 1,200 towns and cities sponsoring Town Hall meetings to discuss the issue.

The Orofino forum will be held on Thursday, April 13, in the Orofino High School Gym. The hilltop forum will be held on Friday, April 14 in the Weippe Discovery Center. Both will begin at 6:30 p.m.

A short video, This Place, will be shown to open the meetings. It depicts the pervasive use of alcohol, its effects and gives some examples of what towns across America are doing to address the problem. Short presentations featuring three to four panelists will follow the video. Audience members will then break into smaller groups of youth and adults to brainstorm possible next steps in Clearwater County to tackle the issue. The results will be recorded in a document that will be reported to the public.

"The Clearwater Substance Abuse Workgroup will collect the written comments and synthesize them into a public report," said Heather Sawyer, Chair of Clearwater Substance Abuse Workgroup. "Communities across America are taking action to recognize this problem and do something about it. Our communities will be holding town meetings to discuss solutions. I hope as many people as possible attend. The more people we have, the better our chance of success."

The panelists will include Detective Becky Drewery, Clearwater County Sheriff's Department, speaking about the legal ramifications of underage consumption and Dr. Phillip Petersen will speak at the Orofino forum and John Beeh, PA-C, will speak at the Weippe forum about the effects of alcohol on the adolescent brain. Another panelist will talk about their experiences with alcohol and a final panelist will talk about the choice not to use alcohol.

The meetings are being co sponsored by the Clearwater Substance Abuse Workgroup, Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics, students from the OHS Government class and the Weippe Wesleyan Youth Center. Parents, students and the public are encouraged to attend.