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Peoria summit helps teens and parents seek healthier and safer choices

Journal Star - 1/28/2018

Jan. 28--PEORIA -- When is a soda can not a soda can?

When it's actually a handy hiding place for illicit drugs.

At the Fifth Annual Peoria County Teen and Parent Summit, that was one of the tips parents learned Saturday in looking for signs of unhealthy teen behavior. The summit, held at the Hult Center for Health Living, offered workshops on healthy relationships, drugs and alcohol, suicide prevention and social-media usage. The event, sponsored by the Peoria County Regional Office of Education and the Substance Abuse and Prevention Coalition (part of the Human Service Center), focused lessons toward eighth-graders. However, for the first time, the summit also invited parents.

One was Anna Houser of Chillicothe, who was grabbed by a presentation of a typical teen bedroom, including potential secret spots for drugs such as a fake soda can. With a 13-year-old son, she is realizing the array of challenges facing youths, as illustrated by the summit.

"It just brings things to life," Houser said. "My son seems so innocent. He plays video games and has just expressed a first interest in girls.

"Parenting doesn't seem so complicated, but it's frightening."

In another workshop, parents were advised on how to communicate effectively with their teens, especially regarding dating relationships. To guide their offspring, parents need to foster effective dialogue, said Cassie Lucchesi, prevention educator for the Center for Prevention of Abuse. Lucchesi stressed the following tips:

*Don't be accusatory.

*Listen to everything.

*Hold the discussion away from noise and distractions.

*Be supportive.

Though the annual summit ended Saturday afternoon, parents can get information about any of the aforementioned topics by contacting the Hult Center, Peoria County Regional Office of Education, the Human Service Center or Center for Prevention of Abuse.

PHIL LUCIANO is a Journal Star columnist. He can be reached at pluciano@pjstar.com, facebook.com/philluciano and (309) 686-3155. Follow him on Twitter.com/LucianoPhil.

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