A free webinar for parents and adults who work with young people will address current drug and alcohol trends among adolescents. The event, titled “High in Plain Sight,” is organized by Rice County Public Health and will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.
The featured speaker, Jermaine Galloway, is a law enforcement officer and substance use prevention educator with more than 30 years of experience. His nationally recognized program aims to help parents detect underage drinking and illegal drug use within their communities.
“I’ve seen the ever-evolving drug culture trends sweep across our country,” said Galloway. “For many people, it’s hard to keep up with these trends, and especially to understand what they all mean. Unless you understand the culture, you won’t see it at all.”
Galloway will discuss topics including current drug and alcohol trends, identifiers such as logos and clothing associated with substance use, as well as hidden compartments used to stash drugs.
Following his presentation, a panel of local experts will discuss observations from within the community. Panelists include Grace Pint, Rice County Public Health Substance Use Prevention Coordinator; Toby Anderson, Rice County Behavioral Health Supervisor; Keith Voegel, Rice County Deputy Sheriff; and Joshua Steinberg, Minnesota State Trooper.
Recent data from the 2025 Minnesota Student Survey indicates that cannabis use among eighth-graders in Rice County stands at 6%, compared to a statewide rate of 3.8%. Among eleventh-graders in both Rice County and statewide, the figure rises to 15.8%. Most students reported obtaining cannabis through friends or by having someone else purchase it for them.
Grace Pint commented on changing perceptions around cannabis: “Today’s cannabis is not the same as what was around in the ‘70s and ’80,” she said. “Products have become significantly more potent and can pose real risks, especially to the developing brain. We’re offering this program to help parents and adults who work with young people have an understanding of what’s happening in our communities. As Jermaine Galloway says ‘You can’t stop what you don’t know.’”
Registration for the webinar is available at https://bit.ly/RiceCo-HighInPlainSight. Registrants will receive connection details via email.
For additional information about the event or substance use prevention efforts in Rice County, contact Grace Pint (Rice County Public Health Substance Use Prevention Coordinator), Deb Purfeerst (Rice County Public Health Director), or Suzy Rook (Communications Coordinator).
