The Weatherly Middle School gym was lined with rows of tables containing eye-catching pens and pamphlets that contained information on the signs and effects of drug and alcohol addiction.

State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, along with the Weatherly PTA and Wellness Counsel, hosted the Drug and Alcohol Expo Thursday night.The mission was to educate the public on the problems of addiction plaguing the area. "We want to make sure people who need help know where to get it," PTA President Donnell Stump said.Along with the information booths, a mock teenager's bedroom was constructed in an adult's only access part of the school. Carbon Monroe Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission showed concerned parents around the staged room, pointing out hidden paraphernalia and stash spots that are easily available online."At first glance it looks pretty normal, but look closer," Commission employee Carolee Boyer said. Boyer held up various average looking drinks like Red Bull and Coca-Cola cans."If local police department were to stop anyone, it's an unopened can, no big deal, but," she said as she twisted the tops to reveal a hiding spot.Boyer credited her daughter Jordan, a senior in Palmerton High School, with setting up the room.Inside the gym information was everywhere. St. Luke's University Health Network's table contained a "guess the meth addict" matching game. A before and after picture card were laid out to be matched up.Panther Valley fourth-grader Lucy Greco beat the game and was appalled at the after photos. "That's so ugly."St. Luke's recently started an "Adopt a School" program with the focus on access to care, chronic disease prevention and mental health.Just Believe Recovery Center's admissions intake coordinator Sherry Harvey said it is a toss-up in the area between alcohol and heroin."More heroin addicts relapse than alcoholics," she said. "Alcoholics have a stronger support system with AA."The recovery center is located in Carbondale, where client-centered addiction treatment is the plan."It's a disease of the mind. A disease of perception, they have to change how they look at things," she said of addicts."It's always people, places and friends that are triggers. Heroin is the most potent drug out there right now; it's instant and cheap. Addicts get out of treatment and can just call their friend and have it waiting for them on the street."Weatherly Police Sgt. Michael Bogart agrees. Bogart has spent his 12-year career at the Weatherly Department and says heroin has taken over for street drug of choice."Heroin is most popular, hands-down. Kids can get it pretty easy. The drug dealer doesn't card them and it's $5 a bag. We rarely get alcohol stops anymore."Officers have started to carry NIK Kits in their belts to test substances for narcotic content during stops. "It's an epidemic," he said.Heffley echoed the sentiments when he addressed the crowd. "A group of mothers came in who had lost children to overdoses. I went to school with these women, so it really hit home. Last year 2,300 people died of overdoes. Carbon County is fifth per capita in overdose deaths in Pennsylvania."Heffley advised the audience to take any unused or outdated prescriptions to any police department. Most departments are now equipped with a drug drop-off box."Almost every police department has one. The law can't do it alone, our prisons are overwhelmed. We have to stop it now," he said.Heffley announced the winners of an essay contest for Carbon County students.More than 700 anti-drug/alcohol essays were received. Bethany Houser of Weatherly was the elementary group winner. Sixth- to eighth-grade winners were Lehighton sixth-grader Megan Aaron and Palmerton eighth-grader Egan Bellesfield. Kristie Schaeffer of CCTI won in the high school category. Each student was awarded with a certificate and a small goody bag.