This summer, Deb was everywhere—classrooms, fairs, community events—spreading prevention education and lifesaving resources to people of all ages. July was especially busy, with five different groups of students ranging in age from 5 to 13 (plus a few older students with special needs) learning how to make healthy, informed choices. Using evidence-based programs like Too Good for Drugs and BABES – Beginning Alcohol and Addiction Basic Education Studies, Deb gave kids the tools to resist peer pressure and build strong decision-making skills.
She also worked with Pleasant Valley students who had violated the school’s vape policy, guiding them through INDEPTH, an American Lung Association program that addresses the real dangers of vaping. Outside the classroom, Deb attended Senator Brown’s Senior Expo and the Metamorphosis Women’s Health Fair, distributing literature, NARCAN, and Rx Destroyer to help prevent substance misuse and protect the community.
July ended with a free backpack giveaway, where families received school supplies alongside vital harm-reduction resources. Deb also took a big step in her own professional development—teaching her first DUI classes after training to become a certified instructor for PennDOT’s required post-arrest program.
In August, she brought the message to thousands at the West End Fair, then closed out the month by honoring those we’ve lost to overdose. On August 31st—Worldwide Overdose Awareness Day—her nonprofit, Rays of Hope for Addiction, sponsored the annual Monroe County Overdose Awareness Day Memorial Drive at Wesleyan Church in Stroudsburg, a moving tribute to lives gone too soon.
With school now back in session, Deb is ready to continue her mission through in-school prevention programs that meet students where they are—before risky choices are made. The work never stops, because every day is a new opportunity to reach someone, share the truth, and fight fentanyl.