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Briarwood Christian School holding drug education forum

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Briarwood Christian School is hosting a community-wide discussion on substance abuse issues.

The forum, titled “Substance Abuse Issues and Teens,” will be on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Clay Morris, Drug Enforcement Administration assistant special agent in charge, will be the keynote speaker.

“The use, abuse and distribution of illegal drugs knows no boundaries,” Morris said in a press release. “At every chance, we must educate, inform and protect the most vulnerable members of our communities and families, our children.”

The program will begin in the school’s auditorium, and then parents will be able to choose attend two of eight, 35-minute breakout sessions. The breakout sessions will cover marijuana, smartphones, drug testing, family resources, along with other topics. Speakers in these breakout sessions will be from the Shelby County Drug Free Coalition, Addiction Prevention Coalition, ArcPoint Labs, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and other areas in the community.

“The opportunity to partner with Briarwood Christian School to inform parents about the dangers of drug use is critical to our success in eradicating drug abuse, protecting our children and making our communities safe,” Morris said. “Collaborative efforts that bring academics, law enforcement and treatment personnel is exactly what is needed to turn today’s deadly trend of drug use.”

Following the breakout sessions, there will be informational booths and light refreshments.

Jay Matthews, dean of students at Briarwood, said substance use and abuse has been affected by changes in culture, and it is important to involve the community in conversation and efforts to fight substance abuse.

“We need an ‘all hands on deck’ mentality to help shepherd our children in these times of false messaging, easy access and encrypted mobile community,” Matthews said. “Briarwood is grateful to be able to host this summit because the message of forgiveness and restoration in the gospel is paramount to any real hope in the areas of temptation and moral failure.”

For more information about the event, contact Jay Matthews at 776-5955.

Event schedule:

6:30 p.m. - Welcome

6:45 - Keynote in Auditorium- Clay Morris D.E.A.

7:30 - Break to classrooms

7:40 - Session A (35 min)

8:15 - change rooms

8:25 - Session B (35 min)

9 p.m. - dismissal to gym for informational booths, light refreshments

Breakout Presentations:

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