WHO: 

All Tampa Bay Area Residents Are Encouraged to Attend

Parents, Grandparents, Healthcare Providers, Community Leaders...       

WHERE:  

Shorecrest Preparatory School:  Auditorium  

5101 First Street Northeast, St. Petersburg    

WHEN: 

Thursday, November 15 

7:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.

WHAT:

Join physicians, community leaders, students and parents in an open dialogue about the growing epidemic of teen prescription drug abuse in Tampa Bay and across the U.S.

"As a father to two teenage children, I felt it necessary to be part of this discussion so that residents and parents can learn how this epidemic is effecting the youth in our community and feel empowered to do something about it," says St. Petersburg Mayor, Bill Foster.

Nearly 1,000 Tampa-Bay area high school students were recently introduced to WAKE UP!, a comprehensive, school-based community program aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse and first time use among American teenagers. The WAKE UP! town hall is the first step in taking this message from schools, to the Tampa-Bay community at large. 

Prescription drug abuse among teens has reached epidemic proportions across the United States. New survey findings confirm that rising incidences of teens abusing prescription drugs is prevalent among young people in the Tampa-Bay area. 

Out of nearly 1,000 students surveyed (9^th through 12^th grade):

58% say the students they know who use prescription drugs recreationally do it because of pressure from other friends

43% of students did not know that a brain is still developing into the mid-20's and because of that young people are at high risk for developing addiction

51% say they are worried about a friend's or their own drug use

Speakers to include: 

STATE OF FLORIDA DRUG TASK FORCE PHYSICIAN & WAKE UP!  MEDICAL DIRECTOR– LORA BROWN, MD

MAYOR OF ST. PETERSBURG, BILL FOSTER

TEACHERS & STAFF FROM SHORECREST PREP AND CANTERBURY SCHOOLS & more