Retired Lieutenant of the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Mike Reese will give a Drug Awareness Forum on Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. at the Marengo County Courthouse in Courtroom 2. The forum is open to the public and will feature a presentation about the latest drug trends and the warning signs for drug use in teens.

Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Darren Glass said that the forum is for anyone who works with or has kids and that “this sort of thing is not just a big city thing.”

“On the local basis we’re seeing a big increase in the amount of court cases that involve drugs,” he said.

Reese will also give a closed presentation to teens about the dangers of drug use at the Theo Ratliff Activity Center, during which he will answer any questions that they have.

Reese has had extensive training and field experience in narcotics law enforcement and was invited by the Marengo County Juvenile Court and the Theo Ratliff Center to bring awareness to the public and to students.

The forum will consist of a one-hour presentation with videos. Judge Vince Deas is also expected to speak.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, January 31 issue of the Demopolis Times.)