By David Madden

DREXEL HILL, Pa. (CBS) — Law enforcement and school district officials from throughout Delaware County, Pa. gathered today for the county’s 14th annual “Safe Schools” summit.

More than 250 people met at the Drexelbrook catering hall in Drexel Hill to share tips on handling this year’s topic: illegal drugs.

Patricia Stouch of Aston, Pa. was able to speak of the problem firsthand.  Her daughter started doing drugs in her senior year of high school, and died at the age of 19.

(Patricia Stouch. Credit: David Madden)

Stouch (right) wants illegal drugs taken off the streets but realizes you have to address the demand. For her, that means getting to kids early — and often.

“Letting the children know what they’re dealing with. If they decide to take one of these pills, they will become addicted to them, and it will eventually lead them down the road to heroin because it’s cheaper and, once they do the heroin, they’re addicted for life,” she says.

Another issue, she thinks, is denial in some communities that drugs are a problem. But experts insist they cross into poor, middle class, and affluent places alike.