CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — Kids are getting pretty creative when it comes to hiding drugs.

“We are trying to educate and inform the community about the drug problems here in our local area,” said Bill Tauriello, Drug Awareness Chairman at West Shore Harrisburg Elks Lodge. “We know that 3,000 people last year died of fentanyl in the state of Pennsylvania. We also know that our local market is saturated with product.”

With this information, officials within Cumberland County held a “How to Check your Child’s Bedroom” presentation Tuesday night in an effort to keep our younger generations safe from drugs.

“Children are getting very crafty about how and where they hide the drugs,” Tauriello said. “What we’re finding is that most oftentimes these parents are not even aware that they are drugs in their own room. In seemingly everyday items that a parent would walk into a child’s bedroom while coming to pick up laundry or clean and they would just completely walk right past.”

Items like a water bottle or even a can of Pringles made with separate compartments.

“I lost my oldest son eight years ago to a fentanyl overdose,” said Dennis Clark of York County. “He was 31 when he passed, father three kids, worked at the Carlisle barracks. And he was just a good guy. I mean, like everybody else, he had his has flaws, but he was just a good guy.”

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

abc27 Evening Newsletter

Clark and Elks Lodge officials says a presentation like this is good, as it spreads awareness.

“I think too many times parents or wanting to be a best friend and until the child’s an adult, my feeling and what have I experienced is that you need to be a parent first,” Clark said. “You’re there to be a parent, not their best friend. And lay down the law and be tough. And I think that’s the thing to do.”

Tauriello says they plan to have more presentations like this in the future at school boards and different community events

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.