For the Rapids City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Wood County Drug Task Force is offering a free community presentation “You Can’t Stop What You Don’t Know – High in Plain Sight” by Jermaine Galloway.

The presentation covers drug and alcohol trends and identifiers as well as concealment methods and containers, drug paraphernalia, new technology and social media trends, youth party games and tendencies, and non-traditional alcohol beverages.  Additionally, guests will be able to see and hold over 70 visual aids discussed in the presentation.

This presentation is for educators, prevention providers, coalition members, law enforcement, probation officers, school administrators, treatment providers, counselors, parents, and anyone interested in identifying signs that may indicate drug and/or alcohol use.

Guests will also have the opportunity to see Wood County’s ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ bedroom display before or after the presentation: take a tour through a typical teenager’s bedroom to see if you can identify signs of substance use and learn how to start a meaningful conversation with youth about substance use.

“We are excited to invite Jermaine Galloway back to Central Wisconsin,” said Ashley Normington, Wood County Health Department. “His presentation is the inspiration for our Hidden in Plain Sight bedroom and backpack displays that we have been providing as a free training to schools and community groups throughout the county over the past few months.”

The event will take place Feb. 27, 5-7:30 p.m., in the Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School auditorium, 1921 27th Ave. South, Wisconsin Rapids. There will be a free meal starting at 5 p.m. and the presentation will start at 5:30 p.m.  Childcare will be available.

To register, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hinplainsight or call 715-421-8923.

As a follow up to this presentation, the Wood County Drug Task Force will be hosing two free screenings of the documentary ‘Chronic State’ on Tuesday, March 12 at McMillan Memorial Library from noon-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.  The documentary covers how marijuana normalization impacts communities from multiple perspectives including youth use rates, tax revenue, incarceration rates, violent crimes, the black market, impact on the brain, prenatal impact, environmental impact, and more.

To view the trailer, visit https://vimeo.com/285486451.