The Gregorian Youth Ministry of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, and City of Angels, a Hamilton-based organization that aids in interventions and treatment options for addicts, will co-host “Not My Child: an addiction awareness discussion for parents,” Feb. 15 from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. in the parish’s Ferrante Hall.
Fatalities among the young due to drug overdoses are on the rise, noted Dave Doran, director of GYM. The parishioner, Confirmation catechist and father of three, noted, “There were five overdose deaths in Mercer County last week. Parents are in denial, and we have to get to these kids.”
The parents-only workshop will offer information about drug abuse prevention and treatment. Speakers slated to attend include: Robbinsville Police Detective Scott Kivet, member of the town’s C.A.R.E. (Community Addiction Recovery Effort) unit, which aids those arrested in the township struggling with opiate/opioid addiction by providing resources and access to treatment at the time of arrest; Kevin Meara, founder of Hamilton-based City of Angels, an organization that performs interventions and referrals of addicts to treatment programs, and Bill Giovannetti, member of the Knights of Columbus St. Gregory council, active in Nar-Anon, a group which aids family and friends of addicts.
Doran noted other individuals who have experienced addiction or are family members of addicts are also due to attend. Literature and resources for audience members will be available, and refreshments will be served.
“If we save one kid, we have done our job,” said Doran. “It’s real and it’s out there. It is important that we spread the message: drugs don’t discriminate.”
Register on the parish website at www.stgregorythegreatchurch.org/youthministry. Name and email address not necessary, but number of attendees (to plan for refreshments) would be helpful. For additional information, please contact Dave Doran, Gregorian Youth Ministry coordinator, at 609-529-6611 or davedoran864@gmail.com.
St. Gregory the Great Parish is located at 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square.