Photo by Katie Turpen.
Help the Hills
Panel members were Superintendent Sheila Phillips, Judge Shanta Owens and Vestavia Hills Police Lt. Johnny Evans.
On Jan. 5, Leadership Vestavia Hills held a panel discussion at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church with leaders from the board of education, the police department, and the Jefferson County Drug Court.
The event was the second town hall meeting presented by Help the Hills, a series of community forums that kicked off in August.
Panel members were Superintendent Sheila Phillips, Judge Shanta Owens and Vestavia Hills Police Lt. Johnny Evans. Each panel member spent several minutes discussing the role of their respective organization, including the policies and procedures as it relates to drug and alcohol use by minors.
"It's very important we are all collaborating together," Phillips said, citing iniaitives the schools were taking such as health classes and the Drug Task Awareness Force. "If we are talking about the well-being of just one student, then that is a priority for us."
Evans gave a presentation with drug statistics as well as a series of slides showing the many shapes and sizes controlled drugs can come in and the various ways they are injected. Statistics he shared included drug overdoses leading to more than 3,500 teen deaths annually and teens are more likely to try prescription drugs than any other illicit drugs.
He said the Vestavia Hills Police Department works with the departments in surrounding communities regularly and encouraged participants to drop off their prescription drugs at two locations, Vestavia Hills City Hall and the VHPD East Precinct at 3241 Cahaba Heights Road.
"This is not just affecting one community, this is affecting everyone," Evans said.
"I see good children coming from good families," said Owens, citing the increasing amount of heroin cases she has seen in recent years. "I see the struggle they go through every day. Making sure they do not have access to narcotics is half the battle."
Help the Hills was formed in an effort to foster open dialogue with parents, educators, and community leaders. Parents are the first line of defense in educating young people and Help the Hills hopes to provide information, tips, and strategies to help parents have those necessary conversations.
Read the story of RIck and Suzanne Norris, local parents who lost their son, Tripp, to a lethal mix of alcohol and heroin.
On April 14, Help the Hills will host a session with parents and children. Dr. Stephen Taylor will be the speaker. For the past 19 years, Dr. Taylor has worked as a licensed, board-certified general, child/adolescent, and addiction psychiatrist. He is also certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine as a specialist in addiction medicine.
For more information, visit leadershipvestaviahills.com
