BBCC partners with local agencies for substance abuse education

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College (BBCC) will host its 10th annual Community Partnership Against Substance Abuse event May 19 in the college’s Masto Conference Center.

The event, hosted cooperatively by BBCC and the Moses Lake Police Department (MLPD), aims to address the consequences of substance abuse, both for individuals and their communities. It is free and open to the public and is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The event will feature speakers who will discuss various topics, like warning signs related to the most prevalent drugs used locally, how drug-related crimes are investigated, and how addiction impacts families. The session from 3 to 4:30 p.m. will be geared toward helping educators and parents recognize signs of substance abuse, according to information provided by BBCC.

At 11:45 a.m., a mock DUI crash will take place in a nearby parking lot on Big Bend’s campus. This demonstration will illustrate how emergency response personnel assess a crash scene. First responders will exhibit emergency procedures that are performed upon arrival to the scene of an accident in which impaired driving is suspected. According to a release from the college, observers will have the opportunity to ask questions of the response personnel at the conclusion of the demonstration.

The Community Partnership Against Substance Abuse event will also feature a Simulated Impaired DriviNg Experience (SIDNE). Technology at this exhibit allows participants to experience simulated effects of impaired driving while wearing “DUI goggles,” according to the BBCC release. Participants in this activity try to “walk the line” or play a “minute to win it” style game to observe the effects of alcohol impairment.

Throughout the day, the various exhibitor booths and speakers will answer questions and engage in dialogue about substance abuse, addiction, prevention, treatment, law and consequences.

The goal of the event, according to Big Bend information, is “to empower people from local communities with information that could save a life.” The college cautions that speaker presentations and simulations are not appropriate for young children, as they will contain graphic content and potentially jarring images, like the realistic mock crash scene.

The following agencies and organizations will be represented at the event May 19: Grant County Coroner, Grant County Health District, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Grant County Fire District No. 5, American Medical Response, MLPD, Moses Lake Fire Department, Washington State Patrol, Grant County District Court, MedStar, Central Basin Traffic Safety Task Force, Moses Lake Community Prevention Coalition, Grant County Prevention and Recovery Center, MACC Dispatch and the Drug Recognition Expert Program.

For those who may not be able to attend but wish to observe the day’s activities and informative presentation, there will be a live video feed of speakers throughout the day (for viewing with a high-speed Internet connection), according to the release from BBCC. Recorded presentations will also be available for viewing after the event on Big Bend’s website.

To access the live feed on May 19 or the recorded presentations thereafter, visit www.bigbend.edu and click on the event photo in the center of the page.

Ryan Minnerly can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.