With prescription drug abuse increasing on Martha’s Vineyard, some Islanders are calling for a new course of action: awareness about the problem.

“One of the things we have to address is the use of prescription drugs,” said Tom Bennett, senior clinical advisor with the Island Counseling Center at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. “It will take a whole community effort to address this issue.”

Drug Abuse Forum

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services and the Youth Task Force will host a community forum on prescription drug abuse at 5 p.m. on March 21 at the regional high school library conference room.

Guest speaker Dr. Charles Reznikoff, a world-renowned expert on addiction medicine at the University of Michigan heads the agenda, along with a panel that will include a pharmacist and representatives from the police, hospitals, the task force and community services and the treatment community.

Contemplative Retreat

On Saturday, March 10, Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven is holding mini-retreat on contemplative living and meditative prayer led by Ethel Fraga.

Herbal Tea Talk

Some think green beer for St. Patrick’s day. Others go for a spot of tea.

If you’re in the latter camp, head to the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore on Main street in Vineyard Haven to sip tea with Island herbalist Holly Bellebuono, who will be discussing her new book The Essential Herbal for Natural Health: How to Transform Easy-To-Find Herbs Into Healing Remedies for the Whole Family.

Afterwards, perhaps you can use the herbs to help an ailing St. Patrick’s Day reveler.

No weights, no dues, attendance not mandatory, essentially no boundaries at all. That’s the idea behind the Alternative Health Club being created by Corinne de Langavant, also known as Coco the Clown.

New Nutrition

Josh and Prudence Levy of Edgartown are the new owners of Vineyard Nutrition. After 24 years, Denise Guest has sold her practice to focus on her Be My Guest Granola product line development.

The Levys recently moved back to the Island to raise their two young boys close to family. “It has always been our dream to own a private nutrition counseling practice together. Buying Vineyard Nutrition has brought us back to family and community and the kind of life we were yearning for,” Mr. Levy said.