Hononegah Nations will host “Get Real About Drugs” program

Parents of middle school and high school-age kids might want to set aside time to attend a special program presented at Hononegah Community High School, Tuesday, 6:30 -7:30, Sept 21, in the Performing Arts Center.

Abbie Lee and Bev Pomering will be speaking straight from the heart about getting real about drugs, avoiding teen addiction, and the personal impact of drugs.

Pomering said parents often respond to the subject of drugs by saying, “It won’t happen to my child,” or, “It’s just a teenage phase.”

“Don’t fall into thinking drug addiction is just a teen thing,” she says.

Pomering speaks from experience. On August 28, 2019, she lost her son Alex to drugs  Alex was 20 years old.

“Access to drugs is unbelievably easy,” she said.  “Alex was using heroin. This time the drug was heavily laced with Fentanyl. He died of an overdose.”

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine.  It was developed for pain relief.

According to Dr. John Lee at Harvard Medical School, “Fentanyl is a psychotherapeutic drug.  The intensity of euphoria is quite intense.”

Since the loss of her son, Pomering has focused on awareness and getting information out to the community.  She is the founder and Executive Director of the Live R.E.A.L. (Rational, Empathetic, Authentic, Loving. ) Foundation.

The not-for-profit foundation collaborates with the Winnebago County Health Department and the Drug Overdose Prevention Program and is able to provide free training and distribution of Naloxone kits. It is available as a nasal spray under the Narcan trade name.

Naloxone is approved by the FDA to rapidly reduce opioid overdose. It binds opioid receptors and can reverse and block effects of other opioids such as heroin, morphine and oxycodone. Naloxone can save lives of drug users.

Abbie Lee, a prevention specialist with Prescription Playbook, will focus on addiction through prescription drugs. Many addictions of this type are associated with sports injuries.  Lee, who works with Omni Youth Services, will talk about an education and awareness campaign designed to help and prevent pain reliever misuse, diversion and abuse by adolescent athletes.

Resource material and information about the safe disposal of medications will be available.

A question-and-answer period follows the presentations.

The Get Real About Drugs series will present two additional programs at the Hononegah Performing Arts Center: Tuesday, Oct 19 and Nov. 17, both at 6:30 – 7:30 P.M.

Pomering is partnering with Hononegah Community High School and the Kinnikinnick School District to bring this important message to area communities.