The Mercer Island Communities That Care Coalition (MICTC) invites all Islanders to attend the May 8 Town Hall Meeting on preventing underage drinking and drug use in the community. The event is free and will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the .
The event will begin with a presentation on the state of underage drinking and drug use on Mercer Island with an emphasis on explaining and exploring MICTC community-wide prevention efforts. The bulk of the evening will feature an interactive panel discussion with local and regional prevention professionals including Youth and Family Services Director Cynthia Goodwin and Drug and Alcohol Counselor Chris Harnish and junior-year student Kaya McRuer.
The meeting comes as a movement to loosen regulations that restrict the use and sale alcohol and marijuana is affecting statewide elections. The successful passage of Initiative 1183 last year, deregulating liquor sales in the state, has been followed by Initiative 502, which would legalize tax, and regulate marijuana for adults 21 and over in the State of Washington.
On Wednesday, sixteen Washington state legislators — including several from Seattle and the Eastside — announced their endorsement of I-502, which will appear on the November 6 general election ballot.
The discussion will close with a look ahead at upcoming prevention concerns and some suggestions for parents, guardians, and youth about how best to reduce the harm from underage alcohol and drug use.
For additional information, contact Sharon Broz, MICTC Project Coordinator at 206-275-7743 or by email at sharon.broz@mercergov.org.
