The snow-covered roads did not keep some from attending the monthly meeting about drug use in the county Tuesday.
About a dozen people attended the meeting held at 6 p.m. at the adult probation office, 300 N. Third St., Pottsville. Topics ranged from how to continue to help those who are on probation or coming out of jail to be connected with services they may need and how the public needs to continue to realize there is a drug problem in the county. They also discussed the possibility of a center to help such people.
“We have a complete epidemic,” Joe Szeliga, chief of Schuylkill County Adult Probation, said Tuesday about drugs.
He shared a story of a young man who drank heavily, which resulted in the man doing some ill-advised things. When he wasn’t drinking, the man liked to go fishing. The man eventually moved with a relative to another state and tried to stay out of trouble. He said the fight against drug and alcohol abuse is a tough one but hope does exists.
“You got to get them motivated,” he said.
More than one person said people who have drug and alcohol problems are stigmatized.
“I think you need to educate this community that not every addict is a bad person,” Phil Rapant, Girardville, said.
He attended the meeting with is son, Phil Rapant Jr., Girardville.
Christopher Smith, 42, of Pottsville, who said he is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, said he tries to help other people who have been in similar circumstances.
“I look at it like I am saving a life, “ he said.
Michele Wilczynski, branch manager at Woodforest National Bank, Saint Clair, talked about the services the bank can offer to those who need help. She said the bank can help people with life skills and there special accounts for those having difficulty setting up a regular checking account. Szeliga said a representative from Wells Fargo is also interested in helping.
The difficulty that some people might have getting to self help meetings, like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, was also discussed. Those interested in perhaps providing a ride should contact Szeliga at 570-628-1299.