The Daily Bulletin Archive

The West Side Youth Development Coalition will convene a Community Forum on Prescription Drug Abuse on Thursday, October 24, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Connecticut Street Armory, 184 Connecticut Street, Buffalo NY 14213. The purpose of the forum is to inform Buffalo’s West Side and broader Western New York community on the dangers of prescription drug abuse, discuss efforts and share skills to combat this growing problem, and provide people of diverse backgrounds with an opportunity to come together to develop action plans for improving local conditions and the quality of life.

We are pleased to announce that United States Attorney William J. Hochul Jr., Western District of New York, has confirmed his participation, and he will discuss the prescription drug abuse problem that is sweeping across Western New York and the country. We will also have Michelle Spahn, resident agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Buffalo, and two FBI agents to provide remarks.

Additionally, we have asked a number of health professionals, members of law enforcement, community leaders, parents, and youth to participate on a group panel. Each of the panelists will provide insights and experiences on addressing the most critical issues in responding to the prescription drug problem in Western New York. Panelists will discuss (1) social and medical availability, (2) lack of monitoring (locking up prescription drugs), and (3) health literacy and issues with taking medicine as prescribed. We will have a 40-minute question-and-answer period from the audience after the panel presentation. Our hope is that these discussions will bring together members of the community in thoughtful conversations about what can be done.

For more information, please contact Jonathan Lindner of the Center for Health and Social Research, ext. 6137.