Long Island Community Groups, Schools, and Law Enforcement to Learn How to Empower Parents

ALBANY, NY (05/18/2010)(readMedia)-- State and local officials, law enforcement agencies, and the Long Island Youth Safety Coalition will participate in a day of training programs designed to educate them on the dangers of underage drinking, drug use, and cyber-bullying among teenagers and how best to pass that knowledge onto parents.

The day-long, free training at Molloy College is presented by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, Long Island Youth Safety Coalition, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas J. Spota, and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America's Sean Clarkin. The training is sponsored by OASAS, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Enforcing the Underage Drinking Law Project.

The Long Island Youth Safety Coalition was created in May 2009 by Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice to empower and further educate the dozens of coalitions, schools, and community partnerships dedicated to making teenagers safer from outside influences and destructive decision-making. The all-day training forum will give all these groups an opportunity to share resources and exchange ideas.

State and local community partners will participate in forums and discussions on heroin and prescription drug use, underage drinking, and the rising prevalence of cyber-bullying among teens, as well as reports on state and local drug use trends among adolescents, resources available, and an innovative community education program called PACT360, developed by the Partnership.

PACT360 (Police and Communities Together) aims to:

• Educate parents of teens and tweens about why kids use drugs and alcohol

• Help parents protect their children

• Offer tips on communicating with teens and monitoring their activities

• Teaching parents how to spot drug/alcohol use and what to do if they discover a problem

The program not only stresses the need for parents to educate themselves about why kids are using drugs and alcohol, but also provides unprecedented online support resources. Through expert tips and information, parents are encouraged to become experts and start talking to their teens about the dangers of using and abusing alcohol and drugs. All Parents: You Matter materials can be found at www.drugfree.org/parents360.

Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo said, "We have made great strides in reducing alcohol and drug use among teens. However, when we are seeing underage drinking and heroin devastate the lives of many teens, families and communities on Long Island, action must be taken by the entire community to stop our young children from falling victim to drugs. It is not always enough to just talk to teens, they sometimes don't hear us as parents - I know because I am a parent myself. We need to get through to the teens, monitor their activities, learn how to spot drug and alcohol use, and know what to do if you discover a problem. This training provides the critical tools necessary to assist parents in protecting their children from the dangers of substance use."

Nassau DA Rice said, "I am honored to stand with men and women who have dedicated their lives to educating our young people on the dangers of addiction and destructive decision-making. Since taking office I have made it my priority to do everything in my power to teach our children about the real-life consequences of drinking and drug use, and today's training extends that education to the members of the Coalition. It is essential that we continue to do whatever is necessary to drive the point home to our teenagers that alcohol and drugs only lead to destruction."

Suffolk DA Spota said, "As law enforcement battles this epidemic on Long Island, every parent should take this opportunity to learn about the enemy. The rampant abuse of prescription drugs and the availability of cheap and potent heroin in our neighborhoods are crises that require the ideas and resolve of every parent."

The Partnership's President Steve Pasierb said, "The Partnership's goal is to be a science-based and accessible resource for all parents so they can successfully prevent, intervene in and treat drug and alcohol use by their children. Building on our expertise in substance abuse education, we are now empowering both parents and teens by giving them the tools and resources they need to fully understand today's drug landscape, and how to live healthy and drug free lives."

Donna, a parent with a son in treatment said, "Having the help available from YES Community Counseling for me and my family has changed everything. If I wasn't able to get the support and education for myself I would never have been strong enough to help my son through his recovery."

Long Island Treatment Admissions Trends for Teens Under 21 include:

• Marijuana: 2153 teen admissions in 2009 vs. 2204 in 2004

• Heroin and Other Opiates: 1347 teen admissions in 2009 vs. 414 in 2004

• Alcohol: 1047 teen admissions in 2009 vs. 1144 in 2004

• Cocaine: 130 teen admissions in 2009 vs. 253 in 2004

Trends worth noting are the number of admissions reporting heroin or another opiate abuse more than tripled between 2004 and 2009, increasing from 414 to 1347; and alcohol abuse was superseded by heroin and other opiates when 1047 admissions reported alcohol and 1347 reported heroin and other opiates.

After the PACT360 training, the Long Island community members will reach out to the Parent Teacher Association, community police, prevention specialists, and youth agencies to educate and empower parents with the knowledge they need to talk to their teens about drug and alcohol use and where to go for help when a problem has developed. During the year, PACT360 will be presented throughout the state to address adolescent alcohol and drug use in all communities.

OASAS oversees one of the nation's largest addiction services systems dedicated to Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, with more than 1,550 programs serving over 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day.

Through efforts such as the Your Story Matters campaign at www.iamrecovery.com, the agency hopes to foster a movement of recovery, one that sheds the stigma and promotes a life of health and wellness.

Addiction is a chronic disease and New Yorkers need to know that help and hope is available. Individuals can find help by calling the toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day a week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY. For more information, please visit www.oasas.state.ny.us.

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