FARMINGTON — Healthy Community Coalition will host a community conversation on youth substance abuse in greater Franklin County as part of its Drug-Free Communities grant.

The forum is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, at Lincoln Auditorium at the University of Maine at Farmington. Woody Hanstein will serve as moderator.

A panel of community leaders will discuss the effects of substance abuse on youths and what parents, families and the community can do to prevent it.

According to the 2013 Substance Abuse Trends Report released by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, over half of Maine high school students felt smoking marijuana on a regular basis was not risky. In the same report, more than seven out of 10 young adults thought that binge drinking a few times a week was not risky. Despite clear evidence that using substances such as alcohol and marijuana at a young age can lead to serious addictions later in life, many youths do not view that behavior as harmful.

This community conversation will give parents and caregivers opportunities to ask questions of local experts about the physical effects and consequences of youth substance abuse, and to learn about prevention strategies that work.

The panel of experts includes Mt. Blue High School Principal Bruce Mochamer, Pediatrician Michele M. McCormick, MD, licensed clinical social worker Karen Barnes from Spruce Mountain High School in Jay and Police Chief Richard Caton of the Jay Police Department.

FMI: 207-779-2409, [email protected].