Petrzalka's Drug Forums

What We Do › Healthy Communities › Other Resources › AIHA Brochure: Safer Streets, Longer Lives: Creating A Healthy Community › Petrzalka's Drug Forums

In 1996, Petrzalka's Aid to Children at Risk Foundation began convening monthly forums to provide local residents with a platform to discuss rising rates of drug abuse among teenagers. The drug forums have been a huge success, according to former foundation president Jana Sturova, PhD, and the mayor and chief of police now regularly attend. "This is something that takes simple skills--how to make people communicate with each other," she said.

The forums often include a video about a drug treatment community in Poland, and allot time for parents, kids and former drug addicts to talk about their personal experiences. "We always have non-academics there to provide an alternative perspective--people like singers and artists who have experience with it," Sturova added.

The local media have been instrumental in generating interest in the forums. "We make sure to take every opportunity to talk to the media, to do interviews and have press conferences. It can be a very strong tool," said Sturova.

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