To actively engage the younger members of its community, the City of Palmdale is rolling out a program designed to tackle the escalating issue of fentanyl and substance abuse head-on. The Fight Fentanyl Antelope Valley Summer Youth Program, as it has been titled, is a no-cost educational initiative scheduled to take place across multiple venues. Specifically, the Palmdale Oasis Park Recreation Center and the Lancaster Community Center, as noted in a press release on the city's official website.
The three-day event, set to span from Tuesday to Thursday and running from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily, aims to equip students from grades 6 through 12 with essential knowledge and strategies to combat the perils of fentanyl. Participants are expected to truly better understand how to resist peer pressure and manage stress, important skills in navigating the risks associated with substance abuse. As stated on the city's website, the initiative prides itself on fostering a "safe, supportive and innovative environment" for its teen attendees.
The workshops and interactive sessions provided during the program will be helmed by professionals specializing in prevention, offering insights into drug resistance and stress management strategies. Mayor Pro Tem Laura Bettencourt shed light on the city’s approach, telling the public via press release, "We’re not just educating our youth, we’re giving them the tools to become advocates and changemakers against deadly drugs in our community." The emphasis is clearly on empowerment and participation, encouraging local adolescents to voice and lead by example.
Additional perks further aim to incentivize attendance and active participation: complementary breakfast and lunch are on the menu for each teen every day of the program, along with opportunities to win gift cards and tickets to local events. Registration is compulsory, and available spots are filling up, so Palmdale's official site urges those interested to sign up quickly.
