Drug Abuse Prevention Seminar Set for Ocean County This Week

The Ocean County Health Department and the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse will sponsor "After the Pills... Heroin," a seminar for drug abuse prevention and awareness on Friday, Aug. 10.

The seminar, which runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will be held at Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 1623 Whitesville Road, in Toms River.

Guest speakers Special Agent Douglas Collier, public information officer for the Drug Enforcement Agency's New Jersey Division, will address “Prescription Drugs and Heroin" and Meg Du Pont Parisi will offer “A Parent’s Perspective."

Collier is responsible for developing channels of communication and implementing public information programs to ensure that the media and public are aware of DEA objectives, programs, goals and accomplishments. He was also the executive producer on the "Heroin: The Ride that Never Ends" DVD and curriculum which is used by prevention and treatment professionals throughout the state of New Jersey.

Parisi is co-chair of the recently established Point Pleasant Beach Municipal Alliance, a group with the goal of reducing substance abuse among youths and adults through early education and media advocacy. Parisi recently lost her 21 year old son Patrick to a prescription drug overdose last November.

The event is free to attend, but seating is limited. If interested in attending, RSVP Bridget Albers via e-mail, balbers@ochd.org.