On Tuesday, Dec. 6, North Branford will share in an evening of frank talk on substance abuse, with input from a shoreline parent who lost her son due to an overdose.

Guilford mother Sue Kruczek said her late son's introduction to narcotics began when Nick, then a promising freshman hockey player, was encouraged to take prescription opioids accessed by his teammates. The Kruczek family lived in Madison at the time.

The North Branford Substance Abuse Forum will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 in the North Branford Auditorium  (North Branford Intermediate School/High School campus). Kruczek will join a discussion panel which also includes State Representatives Vincent Candelora (R-District 86) and Sean Scanlon (D-District 98), North Branford Police Department’s Sean Anderson, pediatrician Dr. Robert Nolfo, South Central Substance Abuse Council’s Marlene McGann and perspective from student and family members introduced as “John,” “Dillon” and “Angelica.”

Scanlon has gathered past community forums in his representative towns of Guilford and Branford, and co-sponsored two bills concerning prescription drug and heroin abuse which have become law between 2015 and 2016. See more on his most recent bill to pass here

Kruczek has shared her son Nick’s story as a precaution to help other families at community forums and is an active advocate for programs to assist families and individuals. See more on her personal story here

The North Branford Substance Abuse forum will be followed by a question and answer session. The program is designed to promote awareness, educate and support local families with increasing substance abuse issues in our community, according to forum support press release issued by North Branford Public Schools (NBPS). The NBPS forum support team includes Annie Masselle (LCSW), Eve Ostroswki (LCSW), Nicole Lacroix, Health Educator and Malik White, Student Counselor.