Anti-drug parents' group to meet again

Chester — A citizens group that recently formed in Chester to combat substance abuse among the young will hold its second meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, at the Chester Town Hall, located at 1786 Kings Highway. The group’s organizer is Michelle Deshler, a parent who says the group aims to provide a safe environment where parents can learn about the substance abuse problems that are getting more serious in the community. The first forum, held at the Chester firehouse, brought out approximately 40 parents. In a letter to the editor published in The Chronicle last week, Deshler wrote: “It was brought to our attention that parents are reluctant to attend meetings at the school because they felt if they were there and/or asked questions their child may have been thought to be involved with substance abuse. It was immediately established that there would be no school or police bashing at the meeting. A parent involved in the community has experience on running this type of meeting and agreed to be moderator... “The issue of drugs and alcohol is affecting this community so much because we are a small community and when people hear names and see the faces of the youth so severely affected they are no longer able to say ‘not my child.’” For more information, call Deshler at 469-6153.