RVCC forum aims to sway young adults’ decisions on drugs, alcohol

Courier News, Home News Tribune, myCentralJersey.com

By Martin C. Bricketto

Staff Writer

Organizers hope a Wednesday forum at Raritan Valley Community College helps young people make the right decisions when it comes to underage and excessive drinking and the use of drugs.

Those who made poor decisions as young people under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be among the speakers at the Somerset’s Initiative for Partying Safely & Healthy Options for Prevention and Education Community Forum.

"We don’t want to tell them what to do and what not to do. We want to partner with them so they have the tools to make good decisions in the future,” said Sharon Lutz, executive director of Somerville-based sponsor EmPoWER Somerset.

The forum also will include question-and-answer sessions with two panels — one made up of professionals such as Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest and University of Medicine & Dentistry of N.J. Air Medical Coordinator Terry Hoben and another with young adults.

Morning show radio personality John Bell will close the evening.

The event was made possible with a substance abuse grant awarded through the state Department of Human Services, according to Lutz.

Lutz said she hopes the event attracts those between ages 18 and 25, but also younger students who want to get involved, and parents and professionals seeking more information.

"The event is really wide open because we’re trying to reach almost every level of our community,” Lutz said.

Prizes also will be available at the forum including two tickets to see Lady Gaga in Atlantic City and two, three-day passes to Bamboozle in East Rutherford.

Registration for the event is required.

EmPoWER Somerset, established in 1974 as the Somerset Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependency, works to prevent drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse and help those in need. Other sponsors of the event include the Courier News and www.MyCentralJersey.com and RVCC.

For those who can’t attend, the event will be streamed live on www.MyCentralJersey.com starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday.