By Brian Estey

Substance abuse it has been a growing scourge in communities worldwide. Human beings crave connectedness, and for many, they achieve that need through drugs or alcohol. Lopez, as a small community, has a unique opportunity to directly effect meaningful cultural and social change. To catalyze this change we must focus on our most potent of allies: education, prevention and awareness.

It will take a community, neighbors and parents, businesses and law enforcement, service providers and especially our youth to strategize and utilize all our different strengths and pools of knowledge to navigate our way through the destructive force that encases addiction and substance abuse.

So, we ask please! Join us at 7 p.m. May 18 at the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts to hear local recovery stories from integral community members and actively participate in a facilitated conversation to follow. Come as you are! Be an advocate; together we can share insights and create a strategic action plan to combat the Lopez Drug Crisis.

Town Hall meeting presented by Belle Lyons and Brian Estey and sponsored by Lopez Prevention Coalition 360-468-3770.