Pennridge community event addresses substance abuse stigma

Pennridge SD is helping to address substance abuse prevention through a community engagement event that aims to draw school and community leaders together. The Overdose Prevention Community Awareness Forum held at the Pennridge High School featured a panel including the district’s superintendent and board president and other community representatives such as township leadership, the county district attorney, the county drug and alcohol commission and the police department. The panel provided guidance to parents and community members wanting to be proactive on the issue of substance abuse and explained what related efforts were being employed in the district and county. The event also addressed the stigma of getting help with drug addiction and highlighted the resources available. According to an article in Montgomery News, Superintendent Jacqueline Rattigan said the district is currently looking at initiating drug awareness programming as early as kindergarten.