Columbia, SC – As part of Alcohol Awareness Month, LRADAC’s Prevention Team will host Town Hall Meetings in Richland and Lexington Counties to help educate the public on ways to prevent underage drinking and substance use. Both meetings will create an open conversation about the impact of underage drinking, youth substance use, and mental health. Panels will include subject matter experts from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, the Lexington Police Department, the West Columbia Police Department, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the USC Division of Law Enforcement and Safety, USC Substance Abuse Prevention and Education, Lexington/Richland School District 5, White Knoll High School, and LRADAC.
“When it comes to conversations about substance misuse, transparency and candid communication are vital to make a real impact on our youth,” said Ashley Bodiford, LRADAC’s Director of Prevention. “Parents, other family members, and additional role models need to start open and honest conversations about substance misuse because when communities start talking, young adults do listen, and we can have a direct and long-lasting impact on our kids’ choices.”
The Lexington County Town Hall Meeting will be held this coming Wednesday, April 19, at 6 pm, at the White Knoll High School Performing Arts Center, and the Richland County Town Hall Meeting will be held Wednesday, April 26, at 6 pm, at Dutch Fork High School. Both meetings are free and open to the public, with all participants eligible to enter a drawing for door prizes.
For more information about LRADAC’s Town Hall Meetings, contact Ashely Bodiford, Director of Prevention, at 803-391-6872 or abodiford@lradac.org.
