State and Carbon County agencies will gather at Panther Valley Junior-Senior High School this week to educate families about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, will host the annual Drug and Alcohol Awareness Expo from 6-8 p.m. Thursday.The event will include a number of agencies, including the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission, which will be on-hand to educate the public on the seriousness of the drug epidemic plaguing the country.A free naloxone training will be held at 6:30 p.m. Those who complete the training will receive a free naloxone kit.Parents of children can also visit a mock teen bedroom, which is set up to show parents where kids hide drugs and show signs of someone who is using."Adults only are permitted in the mock teen bedroom," said Jamie Drake, executive director for the commission. "This exhibit is set up like a typical teen bedroom. It includes stash products that look like everyday items."We will also discuss how a combination of items together may be an indication of use. It is a guided tour where one of our staff members explains all the items in the bedroom and their significance."The commission is creating the Carbon County Overdose Memorial, which is a collection of pictures of those who lost their battle with addiction. Those interested in participating should submit a 4-by-6-inch photo, the person's name and age to Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission, 428 S. Seventh St., Suite 1, Lehighton, PA 18235; attention: Carolee.The memorial will be on display and will then be transported to other local events to help raise awareness.The commission will also announce the winners of the "How Addiction Can Affect My Family" essay contest that was conducted in all Carbon County schools.The event is open to all ages, and children are invited to wear Halloween costumes to trick-or-treat with vendors at the expo.A prescription drug drop box will be on site for the safe disposal of unwanted or expired prescription drugs.