Substance abuse seminar geared to parents and professionals

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A conference on adolescent substance abuse will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Friday at the Black River Coliseum.

The seminar is for parents and professionals and is sponsored jointly by the Butler County Community Resource Council and Mid-America Addictions Technology Transfer Center, which is associated with the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

"Unfortunately, substance abuse is widespread in our adolescent population," said Bob Sutton Jr., Butler County Caring Communities executive director.

The seminar will have breakout sessions in the morning and afternoon and a keynote speaker during the barbecue lunch.

Dr. Ed Leoni, professor of health and leisure at Southeast Missouri State University, will be the keynote speaker and speak on "Life is a Journey...Pack Light."

The four breakout session speakers are from UMKC. Rich Hayton will talk about "What works in Alcohol/Drug Prevention with Adolescents." Scott Jordan will present "Utilizing the Family in Relapse Prevention." John Gray and Scott Johnson will present "Treatment Issues for African-American Clients," and John Colligan will talk about "Pharmacology of Abused Drugs."

Six contact hours are pre-approved by the Missouri Substance Abuse Counselors Certification Board and the National Association of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselors. Certificates to be awarded by UMKC.

The cost for the seminar is $25 per person. There are a limited number of scholarships available for non-professionals. Send checks and money orders to Butler County Community Resource Council, 644 Charles St., Poplar Bluff, Mo. 63901.

For more information, contact Sutton at 776-7830 or Greg Carman, Butler County Community Resource Council education committee chairperson, at 840-9540.