Drug Free Dickson Coalition to hear from director of Main Street Interventions

The Drug Free Dickson Coalition will present a program on what is happening in the area of substance abuse in Dickson County. Patti Flores-Pugh of Main Street Interventions will be the guest speaker at the 6 pm meeting Thursday at the Dickson County Emergency Medical Services building on Cowan Road. Coordinator Anita O’Dell told last week’s White Bluff Beer Board meeting that the coalition is working to reduce binge drinking and tobacco use in the county’s youth. She pointed out that a large percentage of students participating in the coalition’s survey responded that obtaining alcohol and tobacco products is fairly easy. She pointed to the February law enforcement sweep in which almost half of the establishments holding beer licenses in Dickson County were cited for making underage sales. At Thursday’s meeting, the coalition also will work on implementation plans to address the retail aspect of binge drinking, the retail and social aspects of tobacco use and a non-prescription drug abuse plan. For more information on the coalition or Thursday night’s meeting, contact O’Dell at 686-3128.