Arlington coalition shines light on youth drug use, addiction

ARLINGTON — It’s time to shine a light on drug problems here and learn how to help, officials say.

The Arlington Drug Awareness Coalition is hosting an evening event called Out of the Shadows to share stories, advice and resources for preventing youth drug use and fighting addiction. The coalition includes representatives from the school district, city, Stillaguamish Tribe and Cascade Valley Hospital.

The group has prepared a video in which students and young adults in Arlington speak about their struggles with drug abuse or the addictions of friends and family. To protect their privacy, they have been silhouetted, or shadowed, in the video. That’s why the event is called Out of the Shadows.

It’s important to have that perspective from local students and families to make it clear that drugs are a close-to-home problem, district spokeswoman Andrea Conley said.

“We all say it can’t happen to us, it can’t happen to my family,” she said. “But great families with great children find themselves in this situation.”

Shanna Crookes is a guidance counselor and a prevention and intervention specialist for the Arlington School District. She helps hundreds of students plan their classes and graduation goals each year. She also counsels about 50 students every year as they grapple with their own drug addictions or the effects of having parents, siblings or friends who are addicts.

She’s been doing the job for seven years and said she hasn’t seen much of an increase in drug use among her students. However, she has noticed that the community seems to battling more heroin use and drug-related crimes.

“I see it as a constant and a steady problem,” Crookes said.

She teaches her students how to cope with a roller-coaster of emotions and think through tough decisions in stressful moments. It’s important for people to understand what they can and cannot control, then focus on the things they can, she said. She also refers students and families to resources like Catholic Community Services, Cocoon House or additional counseling.

There was no specific catalyst that inspired the coalition to put on this event, Crookes said. Drug abuse is a long-standing problem volunteers have wanted to address for a while.

“I think you just have a community of people who see a problem and want to know: How can we help?” Crookes said. “How can we deal with this?”

Crookes is speaking at the event, along with the mother of a young drug addict, the owner of a treatment center, local police officers, the superintendent, mayor and a representative from Cascade Valley Hospital.

People want to “be part of the change in our community,” Conley said. “If we all pull together, we’ll be able to support others and take away the stigma for getting help.”

The evening starts and ends with the Healthy Families, Healthy Communities Fair where people can learn about different resources and support groups in the Stillaguamish Valley. Cascade Valley Hospital is providing information on how to recognize different drugs and signs of drug abuse. Police are hosting a take-back program that accepts unused prescription drugs. After-school clubs and youth organization also have information about programs to keep kids busy and safe.

Out of the Shadows originally was planned last year, but the district postponed it after the deadly Oso mudslide.

“It wasn’t good timing for anybody,” Conley said. “People were dealing with the aftermath of a disaster.”

Crookes expects people to approach the evening with different mindsets. Some are concerned about a loved one’s drug abuse, others about the security of their homes and safety of their families. Some have been victims of drug-related crimes, while others may have committed crimes to fund their addiction.

“I think the whole Arlington Drug Awareness Coalition wants to approach this from a place of compassion,” Crookes said. “There are people struggling in our community. We need to know how to educate ourselves and, once we’re educated, how do we help.”

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.

Out of the Shadows starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday, with presentations at 7 p.m. in the Byrnes Performing Arts Center at Arlington High School, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.