Community forum on teen drinking in Sonoma on April 18

Alcohol abuse among teens is a documented problem in Sonoma Valley, according to Police Chief Brett Sackett. The nonprofit community organization RISK (Resources, Information, Support and Knowledge), run by Leslie Nicholson, is hosting a community forum on the topic of blood alcohol poisoning prevention on Tuesday, April 18.

Debbie Allen, founder of the nonprofit Shelby’s Rules, will be in Sonoma Valley to speak to parents and youth about the dangers of binge drinking, which took her daughter’s life nearly nine years ago. Allen speaks to parents and students throughout the United States in her quest to educate them about the dangers of substance abuse.

The forum will be held at Altimira Middle School’s Multipurpose Room from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is free and Spanish language translation assistance and headsets will be provided. Refreshments will also be available. Families are invited and students are encouraged to also attend.

The Sonoma Valley Community Health Center has underwritten the speaker fees for the community discussion, which will include a panel of parents and various members of health and law enforcement community, as well as addiction counselors and other community leaders.

Learn more at the RISK facebook group online.