The effects of substance abuse on the developing brain will be the main topic at this year's Risky Business Prevention Conference.

The conference, which will be held Tuesday at the St. John's Portico in Westminster, was started in 1997 as a way to educate the community about dangerous teenage behavior such as drug and alcohol abuse, unprotected sex and depression.

According to Kim Spangler, director of health education at the Carroll County Health Department, the event offers education on trends and statistics, and also provides information on prevention.

[continues 219 words]