HUMBOLDT — A group of about 90 students and their parents set their sights Tuesday on how the youth in Humboldt can avoid the pitfalls of illegal drugs and alcohol.
The community conversation, sponsored by the Humboldt Police Department and facilitated by the Drug Free Communities grant program, is the first of what organizers hope are several such meetings in the coming days.
“Our goal is to address problems in each community, and to make our youth stronger and happier, and their families stronger and happier,” said Lori Holman, a Drug Free Communities facilitator.
Attendees were split into small groups to tackle a half dozen topics: substance abuse; how substance abuse impacts families; mental health issues; missing links in the family structure; social hosting; and the countywide effort to ban the sale of tobacco products to adults younger than 21.
“Our goal is to help communities help each other,” Holman said.
Participants wrote down their unfiltered thoughts. That feedback will be used at a follow-up meeting in the coming months, Holman explained.
Since its formation last fall, the Drug Free Communities group has worked in league with middle-schoolers and high-schoolers in Humboldt, Iola and Marmaton Valley school districts. Such meetings are the next progression in having a healthier community.
“We’re grateful to see you adults who showed up to support the youth,” Holman said. “We’re glad we had such a large group.”
FOLLOWING the smaller discussions, Bobbi Bonds of Thrive Allen County and the Rural Health Inititative spoke about the Tobacco 21 effort to raise the age to buy cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and vaping products.
Iola has adopted the ordinance, which will take effect in June. She plans to approach the Humboldt City Council in April.
Bonds noted the proposal affects only sales; it still would be legal to possess tobacco products.
“I invite anyone to attend, whether you’re for or against it,” Bonds said of the April 11 meeting.
