Senator Martins Sponsors Heroin and Substance Abuse Prevention Forum

     Senator Jack Martins (R-7th Senate District) recently sponsored an informational forum on heroin and substance abuse prevention for residents at the Shelter Rock Library. 

     A panel of experts which included school officials, law enforcement officers, treatment providers, and community officials discussed the growing substance abuse epidemic on Long Island, steps parents can take to protect their loved ones substance abuse, treatment options that are available, ways that treatment can be improved, Residents were also able to ask questions of the panelists.

     Experts taking part in the panel discussion were:

     • 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 speaking out against substance abuse since losing her brother to an overdose;

     • Tom DePaola, Principal of Carle Place High School;

     • Stephanie Joannon, Director of Health and Physical Education for the Port Washington School District and co-chairs 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.

     Senator Martins (right) is pictured moderating the discussion during the Heroin and Substance Abuse Prevention Forum he recently sponsored.