This Saturday, Sept. 13, concerned citizens of Hamburg and the surrounding area are planning to “Take Back Our Park” from the problems of drug use and the effects on our community.
The recently formed H.A.D.I.T (Hamburg Area Drug Intervention Team) wants to bring the community together to fight the illegal drug problem in the Hamburg area.
“Our goal is to bring federal, state and local government programs along with private organizations to educate and bring awareness to the growing illegal drug problem within Hamburg area,” stated the group. “Our intention is to involve as many other people in the community as possible; residents, churches, civic organizations and businesses to commit to the cause as quickly as possible. We realize as a unified community these issues are all of ours no just law enforcement and the schools.”
Members spoke at previous meetings about their own experience with the illegal drug problems in the area and how it impacted their families even if they did not fit the stereotype of a family affected by drug use. Part of their goal is to breakdown that stereotype and help others realize that these problems could happen to any family.
“Families struggling with addictions are part of our community. Instead of weakening the community through denial, we should strive to help, support and understand that which threatens any and all of our families,” said H.A.D.I.T.
The Hamburg area organization has been asked by the Council on Chemical Abuse to be the northern hub of education and presentation in Berks County. This gives H.A.D.I.T. access to anything within the Council on Chemical Abuse’s organization such as their library and literature.
H.A.D.I.T. is also working with Teen Challenge, a faith based recovery program, which is the most successful rehabilitation program in the world according the group. Teen Challenge is using the Hamburg area organization as a pilot program to do outreaches in the community for the purpose of prevention and recovery for those in need.
The “Take Back Our Park” event will be held at the Hamburg Park from 1 to 5 p.m. and feature District Attorney John T. Adams, Sheriff Eric J. Weaknecht, Tina Hoffert, Hamburg’s Mayor Peter Kalabisko, Hamburg Borough Police Department, Hamburg Area School District, Freedom and Restoration for Everyone Enslaved and Teen Challenge. The event is free. H.A.D.I.T. wants to hear from the community about their thoughts and concerns on the fight against illegal drug use in the Hamburg area.
Following the event this Saturday, H.A.D.I.T’s next event will be “A Mother’s Voice” on Oct. 7 with guest speaker Diane Shepler, a Berks County resident, speaking on the epidemic of addiction and the hold heroin had on her son Tyler at 6 p.m. at the Strand Theater in Hamburg. In February, date and time to be determined, there will be “The Anonymous People.”
H.A.D.I.T also wants to hold bi-weekly meetings on Thursdays and is currently looking for a location that will fit their needs. For more information on H.A.D.I.T. visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HamburgAreaDrugInterventionTeam.
