Heroin and Substance Abuse Prevention Forum

     Senator Jack Martins (R-7^th Senate District) will be sponsoring an informational forum on heroin and substance abuse prevention for residents this Tuesday, April 8^th at 6:30 p.m. at the Shelter Rock Library (165 Searingtown Road, Albertson). Parents and community members will have an opportunity to hear from a panel of experts on steps they can take to protect their loved ones from the growing epidemic of heroin and substance abuse. 

     School officials, law enforcement officers, treatment providers, and community officials  will discuss and provide information on how to prevent substance abuse, treatment options that are available, and how parents can help keep drugs out of their children’s hands.  Residents will have an opportunity to ask questions of the experts at the end of the program.

     Experts taking part in the panel discussion are:

• Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, Executive Director of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD), a non-profit agency dedicated to fighting addiction;
• Maria Elisa Cuadra, Executive Director of Community Organization for Parents and Youth (COPAY), which provides numerous programs designed to help youth;
• Detective Pam Stark, Nassau County Police Department of Community Affairs;
• Michelle Medoff, Miss Long Island 2014 and a Great Neck resident who has been an advocate in the fight against addiction;
• David Flatley, Superintendent of Schools for the Carle Place School District;
• Stephanie Joannon, Director of Health and Physical Education for the Port Washington School District and co-chair of the Port Washington Safety and Substance Abuse Task Force, a community outreach group working to implement a comprehensive school and community approach to help foster a safe and drug free learning environment.
• Cathy Samuels, Project Director for Manhasset Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse (Manhasset CASA), a private non-profit organization  of representatives from twelve key sectors of the Manhasset community that acts as a resource to reduce the illegal, underage use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs among its youth.

     Residents who would like to attend Senator Martins’ program on heroin and substance abuse prevention should RSVP by calling Senator Martins’ office at 516-746-5924.