The Monroe County Coalition for Drug Free Communities is hosting its second annual forum titled “Addressing Escalating Drug Abuse in Monroe County,” Oct. 1, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Hope Christian Church in Columbia.

“There are multiple purposes (for the forum),” chairman Bill Rebholz told the Republic-Times. “The two primary reasons are to let people in Monroe County know where we are at in the drug situation. We all know that every community has issues with substance abuse, whether its heroin, meth, underage drinking or whatever. But it changes over time and the trends become different. The issues change. So, we wanted to get everyone up to date on where the substance abuse issue is presently in Monroe County.”

The coalition held a forum last summer specifically focusing on marijuana.

“There was a lot of concern about marijuana,” Rebholz said. “So, we always try to be relevant. We try to put very knowledgeable speakers out there, whatever the topic is. This one, we decided that we wanted to give everyone an update on what’s going on in both the threat and treatment options.”

Rebholz also talked about providing a space where people can learn about prevention and recovery at this year’s forum.

“But we also wanted to let people know that there are certainly things we can do on the prevention side and we’ll talk about that,” Rebholz said. “There is also treatment available and people who are in recovery, there are resources for recovery. So, some of those folks will be there as well.”

Thursday’s forum will feature Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing and speakers David Roberts and Anna King.

“David Roberts works with young people aged 13 through 25,” Rebholz said. “That’s where he can speak. His comments will be what he is seeing impacting young people in the area. Also, he’ll talk about what are issues facing kids? What can parents do? Then, Anna King, with Human Support Services, she can talk about some of the initiatives in Monroe County that we’re using as well as speak to adults about treatment and recovery options.”

A question and answer discussion will follow the speakers.

“We want people to not just leave with concerns, but we want people to leave with hope,” Rebholz said.