HAZELWOOD, Mo. — If you have a teenager, you may think you would know if they are using drugs or drinking alcohol. But the fact of the matter is kids are finding new ways of hiding things, right in plain sight.
That's where Hidden in Plain View comes in to help. The initiative is an interactive display of a teenager's bedroom containing over 70 items that could signal potential risky activity in a young person's life. Throughout the program, parents will learn how to spot warning signs, as well as get tips for talking with kids about the dangers of alcohol and drug use.
Items like soda cans, breath mints, or even flip flops have been used to store or implement drugs.
This makes it harder for parents to realize their kids could be using drugs, that’s why Hidden in plain view lets people interactively pick out items in a room where they think kids could hide drugs.
Kelly Prunty is an advocate for addiction is real she said when parents participate in this activity many of them were shocked at the amount of house hold that items could be used to hide a habit.
“A tea light candle on its own doesn’t necessarily mean that your child is using drugs so all of this needs to be taken in context. But the tea light candle holders are one of the most popular ways that kids are cooking heroine today," Prunty said.
Organizers are inviting parents and anyone who would like to attend.
The event, which has three different offerings, is open to the public beginning Tuesday. Those dates are below:
- Tuesday, March 27: Hazelwood Northwest Middle School; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 10: Hazelwood North Middle School; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 24: Hazelwood Southeast Middle School; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
