CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Drug paraphernalia may be hidden in a jar of peanut butter, an old Pringles can or even the soles of shoes.
That’s what was shown Tuesday in a simulation setup to give parents the tools they need to fight back against teen drug use.
“The shoes — if you lift up the sole of the shoe, in the inside, it's a stash,” said Hana Reifinger, a prevention specialist for the Center for Humanistic Change.
“So they know where they can look, so they know what to look for, and also just to try to keep their kids safe."Hana Reifinger, Center for Humanistic Change
Reifinger's organization teamed up with St. Luke’s University Health Network during its Drug Abuse and Recovery week to hold a mock teen bedroom at St. Luke’s Pediatric Specialty Center in Center Valley.
The purpose was for parents and employees to see where substances or paraphernalia can be hidden.
“So they know where they can look, so they know what to look for, and also just to try to keep their kids safe,” Reifinger said.
Some of the hiding places shown in the simulation included food cans that could unscrew and shoe inserts that have a secret compartment.
“There's a peanut butter jar — so if you unscrew the lid there's actually, it's a stash," Reifinger said.
"Most people would think to use it on vacation to hide their valuables, but kids can use it to hide different paraphernalia.
"There's a Pringles can which is actually full with Pringles, but the bottom is a stash.”
She said many everyday items can be converted into a place to hide drugs, known as a diversion safe.
One was a syringe taped behind a sports team flag. She also said parents should be on the lookout for clothing that may have slogans or pictures displaying drug references.
Drug and alcohol impact on youth
Physician assistant Morgan Needham said the earlier children are exposed to substances or weapons, the more likely they are to have poor outcomes as they grow.
“We know that there are lots of opportunities for children in schools to be exposed to different things that they shouldn't necessarily be indulging in at this age," she said.
"And so we want to make sure that parents are aware of places where they could potentially locate these items that may be harmful to their children, especially in areas that they may not necessarily think.”
“Just helps build a lot of awareness, and, I think, helps lead to potential intervention. And families are having open conversations about safety and the dangers related to drug use.”St. Luke’s Pediatric Specialty Groups. Director Christine Sherman
Needham, who is the advanced practitioner manager for St. Luke’s Pediatric Specialty, said exposure to drugs and alcohol at a young age can have a long-term effect on a person’s life.
“May impact their success in life, their health, overall wellness, as well as the family unit, too,” she said.
The mock teen bedrooms setup across the hospital network is just one event they are using to mark Drug Abuse and Recovery week.
“Just helps build a lot of awareness, and, I think, helps lead to potential intervention," St. Luke’s Pediatric Specialty Groups Director Christine Sherman said.
"And families are having open conversations about safety and the dangers related to drug use.”
The network’s Addiction and Recovery Committee put the event together with help from the Lehigh County Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Northampton County Drug and Alcohol, the Center for Humanistic Change Inc. and St. Luke’s Penn Foundation.
