MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Thousands of students and educators packed the WVU Coliseum Tuesday for the first of two opioid summits in the Mountain State this week. Four of the most influencial institutions along with the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activity Commission have organized a series of speakers and performers to help students understand the power of their decisions and the dangers of risky behavior.
The event is also a valuable resource for educators says Erin Parsons, teacher at John Marshal High School in Glen Dale.
Parsons said,”I see for our students a lot of them are dealing with problems at home that many of us in the educational field may not have familiarity with.”
This unique event allowed students to hear the story of former NBA player Chris Herren, who was addicted to opioids, along with Rhonda Sciortino, who overcame abandonment, abuse, poverty, filth and hunger while growing up in an addictive household to build a life of affluence.
The event also featured the “Speaker for the Dreamer,” Shaun Derek. Derek said,”We really want to let them know that one, we care about them, two there are things they can do about it and three most young people are drug-free.”
The summit is also a shift in focus to prevention, compassionate treatment programs and educational and employment opportunities.
Parsons said,”It’s a great opportunity to hear the stories that drug use does not target a certain demographic, it can target anybody, any household, any family.”
Derek added,”Young people are what we call “sober curious,” they want to know how to be more sober and do healthier activities instead og things that are harmful fir their future.”
Organizers say approximately 7,000 high school students north of Route 50 attending the Morgantown Summit Tuesday, September 17 and 7,000 students south of the highway attending the Huntington Summit at the Cam Henderson Center Wednesday, September 18.
The event will also be livestreamed to 136,000 more middle and high school teens as well.