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Illegal drug problems aren’t confined to large cities. Rural towns struggle as well, and a group of local residents and officials are aiming to educate the public about issues in Sanders County.

The Sanders County Drug Awareness Seminar will explore the impact of illegal drugs on the community. The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 2 at the Rex Theatre in Thompson Falls.

“We’re all victims of the drug epidemic,” Sanders County Undersheriff Lanny Hensley said, noting that people need to know more about the local drug problem.

“It’s not that they don’t care, it’s just that they don’t realize how it affects them and their community,” Hensley said. “The jails are full. We have to do something different.” And Hensley says that in a small rural community, we have the ability to do something.”

Jennifer McPherson is a Prevention Specialist for the Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Clinic (FVCDC). She noted that in Sanders County, “when we circle our wagons, we can get some action.”

Hensley said that when you have a healthy community that is informed about the issue, it becomes immune and discourages drug dealers and users from planting roots there.

The forum on May 2 will include local health professionals and law enforcement, among others, explaining how drug issues affect everyone in a community. Hensley said that law enforcement is only a small part of combatting drugs. He noted that effects can be seen throughout the community, in insurance costs for residents and real estate values, as well as in using emergency services such as ambulance, fire and other first responders.

“It’s a national problem, but we have to deal with our part of it,” Hensley said.

Helping to organize the meeting are members of the Clark Fork Valley Elks drug awareness committee and local churches, along with the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office and FVCDC.