MENDOTA – In 2023, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration rebranded National Prevention Week to further provide evidence-based and accessible resources to facilitate collective action.

The City of Mendota hopped aboard the idea and became part of SAMHSA’s grant program and will use the funds to educate and assist residents with events, activities, and guest speakers on Tuesday, May 13.

“The City of Mendota received a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Partnerships for Success Grant in 2023,” said Mendota Project Director Annie Short. “Each year, as our Live Well Mendota group grows, it gives us opportunities to grow National Prevention Week.

“This year, we were excited to receive a phone call from State Representative Bradley Fritts to once again do the Prescription Drug Take Back event. Although we have Take Back boxes at CVS and the Mendota Police Department and the hospital, OSF Saint Paul, does take prescriptions back also, it’s nice to do this during the prevention event.”

The Prescription Drug Take Back is from 4-6 p.m. on May 13 and features a drive-thru drop off at the Mendota Civic Center parking lot featuring Fritts.

There are no questions, no judgments, just the opportunity to get drugs out of homes because research has proven the first place or first time for the misuse of drugs happens at the home.

Hidden in Plain Sight is an adult only event taking place from 4-6 p.m. inside the Mendota Civic Center.

“This is a great opportunity for parents to test their detective skills. There are a lot of products out there now that are easily able to hide drugs,” Short said. “Not to alarm parents, but it’s an opportunity to educate them and give them a sense of what to look for. We don’t want kids using or misusing drugs, and being a parent can be very difficult when it comes to this.

“This event will give them a mock bedroom to see if they can find all the areas where drugs could be hidden.”

After Hidden in Plain Sight, two guest speakers will present.

At 6 p.m., Special Agent Greg Czaczkowski will share current drug use trends among youth and how drugs are being sold to prevent usage among the youth.

At 7 p.m., BeSure Consulting will discuss how parents can monitor, manage, and keep children safe online and on mobile devices.

“We’re excited to have both of our speakers to discuss drug prevention. They’ll share what to look for and the understanding of how drugs are getting into the hands of our kids,” Short said. “Also, with our social media speaker, we recognize it has to be difficult for a parent these days to know how to protect their children while also letting them be independent, especially when it comes to the internet.

“The speaker will help parents find a way to monitor social media without them feeling like they’re hovering over their kids.”

Short and the City of Mendota are excited to host the National Prevention Week programing to assist Mendota residents. And because guest speakers and Rep. Fritts care as well.

“It shows we’re all concerned and getting involved in preventing our youth from using drugs,” Short said. “Having these opportunities and the grant to pay for speakers to come in is nice because having the national experts, who can give other insight beyond what happens in Mendota is helpful to the cause.”