Pubdate: Thu, 08 May 2014
Source: Republican, The (Springfield, MA)
Copyright: 2014 The Republican
Contact: http://www.masslive.com/contactus/
Website: http://www.masslive.com/republican/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3075
Author: Christopher Goudreau

WEST SPRINGFIELD COP AT FORUM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, PARENTS ON
DRUG ADDICTION: 'IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE'

WEST SPRINGFIELD - Resident inmates recovering from drug addiction at
the Western Massachusetts Correctional Alcohol Center, a component of
the Hampden County Sheriff's Department, spoke out about the dangers
of substance abuse Wednesday at the High School as part of a forum
geared toward raising awareness about drug abuse for families and
students in grades 5 through 8.

More than 75 people attended the presentation, which is part of a
national effort called "notMykid," with officers from the West
Springfield Police Department and the Hampden County Sheriff's
Department leading discussions about parental involvement and
awareness, and information on rehabilitation programs.

"There's so many fallacies out there that parents, they don't want to
deal with it," said Alissa L. Burke, a juvenile detective in the West
Springfield Police Department. "They don't want to ever say, 'kids and
drugs, not my kids and drugs.' It can happen to anyone."

Three resident inmates shared their stories about their histories of
drug abuse. One said he was a high school athlete whose father is a
police officer. Another said she has a 12-year old daughter she hasn't
seen since August 2013 because of her incarceration.

All three said their substance abuse began in their mid-to late teens
and early 20s and that they didn't seek help for their addictions
until their prison sentence began.

"Even though they have made mistakes in their life, they possess some
of the traits that we find most admirable in our children," said
Barbara Gallo, a case manager at the Hampden County Sheriff's Department.

Gallo said the reason she became a case manager was because of her
son, who had been addicted to cocaine for two years until she
discovered his substance abuse problems when he was 17.

Mark P. Hammond, high school resource officer, said many controlled
substances such as marijuana can be laced with other drugs such as
bath salts, and in some cases, shards of glass have been found within
illegal drugs.

"I've heard of every group of kids that's using some sort of illegal
drug," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt