Both kids and parents in Delaware County are about to get a swift, cold slap in the face.
You might call it "sobering" news. Next week the county will hold a town hall meeting at the Delaware County Unit to release the results of a new study on the use of drugs and alcohol by Delco children.
Brace yourself, parents. The news is not good.
• 30 percent of Delco high school seniors - almost 1 in 3 - have engaged in binge drinking in the past month.
• More Delco teens drive under the influence of marijuana than alcohol.
The survey, part of a statewide project, talked to about 9,000 students from schools across the county.
We tackled the issue head-on and got a sneak peek at what's in the report last night on our live-stream Internet show, "Live From the Newsroom." If you misssed the show you can catch the replay here.
My thanks to our panel: Beth Mingey, from Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems, which did the study; Linda Moore-Singleton, from the county Office of Behavioral Health; and our very special guest, Tricia Stouch, a mother from Aston who lost her 19-year-old daughter Pamela to a heroin overdose.
Here are the details on the town hall meeting next week. I urge every concerned parent in Delco to attend.
It's set for Thursday, May 2 at the Delaware County Intermediate Unit, on Yale Avenue in Morton. There are two sessions, 2-4 p.m. and again at 6-8 p.m.
On hand will be county District Attorney Jack Whelan, Upper Darby top cop Mike Chitwood; and county Executive Director Marianne Grace.
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