MACHIAS - Suggestions from the community on how Washington County can address its drug abuse problems will be the focus of all-day conferences in Machias and Calais on May 14 and 15.The sessions will be sponsored by the Washington County Drug Action Team, a group of social service providers, law enforcement officers, medical personnel, educators and others. Coordinator Barbara Drisko said the team came together almost a year ago after a meeting of the Washington County commissioners. "Drug addiction affects so many people in this county, personally as well as economically," Drisko said. In addition to Drisko, a Columbia Falls selectman and a member of the Washington County budget committee, the nucleus of the group originally included state Rep. George Bunker, D-Kossuth Township, Sheriff Joseph Tibbetts and Commissioner Winola Burke. The team expanded last fall to include representatives of some 40 agencies after Bunker organized a meeting that included representatives of state and federal agencies as well as private service providers, Drisko said. "We've been meeting virtually monthly, doing all we can do to get acquainted with what programs are available and what is needed," she said. The team wants to hear from the community and is putting together what it refers to as summits - all day workshops at Washington County Technical College in Calais and the University of Maine at Machias. Speakers, including a representative from the U.S. Justice Department, are being considered for the event, Drisko said. More information on the
format of the workshops and the times will be available
soon, she said. CLOSE THIS WINDOW |