LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Community leaders, health professionals and educators gathered Thursday to address concerns affecting local youth, including substance abuse and mental health challenges.
Fentanyl-laced drugs, nicotine addiction among children and teens, and concerns about early marijuana use and mental health were among the topics discussed during a presentation hosted by Lima’s Jegna Corporation.
Nurse Charles Folsom, who has gained a large social media following for sharing information about the health impacts of substance use and trends he says he sees among young patients, was the speaker.
Organizers said the goal of the event was to bring important information directly to people working with local youth.
“We just want people to be courageous, and we always love to try and have professionals, the social service community and the professional community in the same room with parents and young people to have a more honest, open discussion so that everybody has the same language and we’re moving in the same direction,” said Emmanuel Curtis, CEO of Jegna Corporation.
Folsom is also scheduled to speak at Friday’s youth summit at Lima Senior High School.