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The Drug Education Council will host a community-wide youth movie night on Jan. 31, 2020, from 5:30 – 8 p.m.

The council hopes to impact many through the event.

“Our goal is to encourage and equip the youth of our community with the truth about alcohol and drugs by providing special speakers, food, fun things for them to do, and much more at community youth events,” said Mollie Pizzotti, event coordinator.

“Since Feb. 2019, the council has hosted a monthly event for all youth in the surrounding area.

The first Drug Education Council event was held in February 2019 and we have held events monthly since then,” shared Pizzotti.

Since last year, the council has been overwhelmed by the support of the community.

“There have been many organizations and people in the community that have helped make this happen and it wouldn’t be possible without them. we want to thank and recognize the Drug Education Council of Mobile, Mayor Yank Lovelace, the City of Brewton, Compassion for Brewton, New Beginnings Ministries and Zion Fountain Church,  and everyone that has supported these events in any way,” said Pizzotti.

It is through these organizations that the events are even possible.

Pizzotti explained, “Through the Drug Education Council of Mobile, AL we were given an opportunity to implement free youth events and meetings in Escambia County to discuss the risks involved with adolescent use of alcohol and drugs.

Mayor Yank Lovelace and the City of Brewton also committed to partnering with this vision to make it come to life.”

For Pizzotti the ministry is very close to heart.

Pizzotti shared about her own story overcoming her own addiction.

“I am personally a recovering addict who became addicted to alcohol and drugs at a young age, which led me down a destructive path,” said Pizzotti.

She noted that 1 in 7 individuals become addicted to drugs.

“Nobody wakes up one morning and says ‘I want to be an addict,’ people become addicted because they never make a plan to not get addicted. I always thought addiction would never happen to me but that didn’t change the fact that it did,” added Pizzotti.

At the age of 22, Pizzotti was “set free from the chains of addiction through Jesus Christ.”

“While residing at New Beginnings Restoration Center.  There is hope after addiction and God can make any situation turn around for good Romans 8:28 Since being on a path of recovery for almost five years my hope is to try to turn all the pain I’ve experienced because of addiction into a purpose through the love of Jesus Christ by helping others overcome addiction and witnessing to youth to show them that there is a better way to live besides falling to the temptations of alcohol and drugs,” she continued.

She concluded, “No amount of alcohol or drugs is worth the risk of possibly getting addicted, losing your life, or the painful consequences associated with using.”

The city sponsored event will be held at 717 St. Nicholas Avenue. All youth 12 & up are invited to come for a free movie, concessions, fun, and fellowship. For more information or to stay updated on future events reference the City of Brewton’s facebook page.