LUBEC, Maine — A local businessman is organizing a community group he hopes will educate children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Glen Tenan Sr., owner of the Eastland Motel, has started a Facebook group called First Light Substance Awareness, which has 350 members so far.
“Based in Lubec, Maine, where opiate and alcohol addiction has reached epidemic proportions, First Light Substance Abuse aims to educate, support and provide programs and resources to Lubec area youth and their families,” the Facebook page description reads.
“We’re trying to come up with a way for the community to help the kids learn before they get into opiates,” Tenan said Monday.
He began the Facebook page after he found out about an underage drinking party in late February or early March. The youths at the party, who were smoking cigarettes and pot, were youngsters Tenan had coached in softball. He wishes he would have been able to reach them before they got involved in drugs and alcohol, he said.
Tenan stressed that while he started the group, his time commitments with his hotel business will make him unable to be the group leader. He is actively looking for someone who will take over, as well as people wishing simply to be involved.
“What I want to do is get the community behind [it],” he said.
In the next two weeks, he hopes to have a public forum, possibly at the Lubec Elementary School, where those interested in being involved can come together and discuss their ideas.
Anyone who wants more information can visit the Facebook page and message Tenan directly there.