On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, an information event was held at the Pierce Theatre on “Psychotropic Substances and Adolescence: I Get Informed, Prevent, and Protect Because It Concerns Me,” aimed at Pierce Parents and Teachers and organized in collaboration with the Protection Against Drug Addiction Institute (P.A.D.A.).
The event was prefaced by Mr. Ioannis Rahovitsas, Retired Lieutenant General, Honorary Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Police, and President of P.A.D.A., while on behalf of the College, Mr. Maximos Vasileiou, Executive Director of Pierce Administration, welcomed the speakers and the audience.
The speakers were:
- Despina Kelapostolou, a psychologist, on the topic “The transition from use as an attempt to find one’s identity: Dimensions of substance use in adolescence.”.
- Eleni Bakouri, Former Head of the Drugs Department of the General State Laboratory, Vice President of P.A.D.A., on the topic “Drugs Today: Everywhere, Everything, Everyone”.
- George Papaprodromou, Retired Lieutenant General, Graduate of the Law School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Judicial Registrar, Expert in Cybercrime, on “Cybersecurity Challenges in Cyberspace. Drugs and psychotropic substances online and offline” and
- Ioannis Kalliatsos, Medical Cardiologist, Vice President of P.A.D.A., on “Psychoactive Substances and Their Effect on the Cardiovascular System.”
The speakers referred to the teenagers’ search for identity and its consequences, informed parents and teachers in depth about the substances in circulation, addiction, the effects on mental and physical health and the risks for children, in order to help families and schools in the difficult task of educating young people and adolescents.
After the presentations, the speakers answered questions from the audience and the discussion highlighted the growing social concern of families and schools, as well as the ever-changing social facts. In addition to the speakers, the questions were answered on behalf of the School by the Directors, Mr. Ioannis Kladas (Gymnasium) and Mr. Georgios Vakerlis (Lyceum).
The event was the first in a series of informative meetings raising awareness on issues of concern to parents, students and teachers, with the aim of providing correct information so that we are vigilant and shield ourselves against the challenges of the times.