People attending the Drug and Alcohol Awareness Expo Thursday learned through a simulator just how quickly they can get in trouble on the road.

State Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) hosted the event at Carbon Career and Technical Insitute.The Lehigh Valley Health Network's driving simulator creates courses in distracted or impaired driving in which the driver faces multiple obstacles. For example, a "passenger" could ask the driver to make a phone call or senda text while driving for them.If the driver crashes, they are then shown the consequences, whether it is financial costs, jail time, or the loss of a life.Lehigh Valley Health Network has teamed up with MedEvac and a local judge to create scenarios that are even more realistic."I think it's really surprising to them, the level of trouble that can happen to them," said Erin Holt, a representative from Lehigh Valley Health Networks. "If they are in a major crash, one of the statistics is 575 hours you need to work to pay this off.Holt said "Especially for high school kids who are in their first job I think that really resonates with them. The consequences are more serious than what they think."Another hot spot among the 26 vendors was the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission's bedroom simulator.A bedroom was arranged in a hallway to mimic that of a teenager's, with 64 drug- and alcohol-related objects hidden within the room.The room was designed to show that bedroom objects are not always what they appear to be. Seemingly harmless objects can be hazards, such as the acids in an everyday battery that can be used to make meth."We do have some people that are finding pretty many of our items," said Kristen Blasko of the Drug and Alcohol commission. "Some have said that they will come back because they are very interested in this setup so that they can help either their family members or themselves searching their own children's bedrooms."According to a study by the Trust for America's Health, Pennsylvania ranks 14th in the country for drug overdose mortality rate, a statistic that most locals can attest to. 15.3 per 100,000 people die from a drug overdose in the state.Prescription drugs are particularly of concern, mainly because of ease of access. In a nationwide 2013 survey, the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that 15 percent of high school seniors had abused prescription drugs in the preceding year.Because of this issue, local police departments have taken action bycreating prescriptiontake-back stations in Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Mahoning Township.The expo is a result of House Resolution 659, which Heffley introduced last year. The resolution created an initiative to combat drug abuse."I believe we have to take in our approach we have to confront it legally through law enforcement but also we have to educate people on the drugs that are out there and look at what the trends are," said Heffley.Mary Comensky, a Coaldale resident, said, "(It's important) to realize that no matter how tragic the situation seems there is help and there is hope. And no matter how sever a loved one is suffering with addiction, there's someone who's always willing to help."If you or someone you know is facing a drug or alcohol problem, contact the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and AlcoholCommission toll free at 1-866-824-3578.