Parents in the area are invited to hear the stories of emergency responders and medical professionals as they relate to drug and alcohol abuse.

Dave Beukelman with the Pella Youth Coalition tells KRLS News local doctors, Pella Ambulance personnel, and Pella Police Department officers will share their experiences in the Pella High School Auditorium tonight at 7 p.m.

Beukelman says the goal of the evening is to continue to better inform parents about the growth of drug use among teens and how to help prevent it from spreading throughout the community.

“Some people really wanted to know what first responders are engaging in and what we’re seeing,” he says. “So that’s why we’re going to start off with Dr. Vande Zande and he’s going to talk about vaping, Dr. Matt Gritters is going to talk about in the emergency room what they are seeing. Both of these doctors are from the Pella hospital, they’ve done a lot of research, and they have a pretty good knowledge base as to what’s going on.”

“Then we transition to Greg Higginbotham and Teri Van Kooten from the ambulance service, and they will talk about what they’re seeing as they respond to 911 scenes. Also, Terri might talk about the medical examiner role.”

The mission of the Pella Youth Coalition is to provide students and parents the tools and support they need to positively impact substance-free attitudes, behaviors, and norms, and to establish Pella as a healthy, productive, safe, and substance-free community.

Photo from the Hope in the Dark Event in October