The Town of Montgomery Police Department and Orange County’s Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council will hold a community meeting this Thursday, June 6 at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the town hall at 110 Bracken Road, where attendees will discuss substance abuse, preventive measures, and ways to educate the public on the matter.

“This Thursday’s meeting is going to be a wide-ranging conversation of the pathways of drug addictions and how we could prevent those addictions,” said John Hank, chief of the town’s police department.

This meeting is just one of several initiatives being taken by municipalities across the county to combat drug addiction. Within the last two months, the Town of Crawford banned vaping from its parks and properties, the Village of Montgomery Police Department investigated overdose cases, and State Assemblyman Brian Maher created the “Finding Hope” roundtable to brainstorm legislation against drug trafficking.

Following in Maher’s footsteps, the town’s police department and ADAC will also form a coalition during Thursday’s meeting tasked with addressing drug-related issues in the local area. Similar to “Finding Hope,” the town’s group will comprise members who would consider long-term solutions to addiction and teach children and families the importance of drug safety. Hank encourages everyone to attend Thursday’s meeting and participate in the coalition, stressing the need for collaboration between the community and the police department.

“We’re looking for issues that may exist within the town, such as drug dealers selling to people under 21 or marijuana dealers operating without a license,” Hank said. “We need a buy-in from the community and to work together as a group. It can’t just be the schools or businesses involved; it needs to be everyone.”