Prevention through Connection
September 2016
Letter to Editor Urges Parents to Talk with Teens  
Cites Alcohol + Drugs = Tragedy

If you're opening this e-newsletter as well as past outreach, you are aware that many Manhasset teens binge drink alcohol.  Binge drinking is consuming 5-6 alcoholic beverages (and sometimes more) within a two hour period. You also know CASA is committed to reducing prescription drug misuse and has collaborated with partners to promote local pharmaceutical take back events and provide prevention educational programs.

This summer, a poignant letter to the editor was published in the Manhasset Press.  It discussed the tragedy of losing a young life to drugs and made a plea to parents to talk to their children in an effort to put an end to these extremely avoidable tragedies. The letter also discussed how some Manhasset teens are mixing alcohol and drugs for  just a good time.

In 2013, 25 Manhasset teens went to the emergency room for alcohol and drug related issues. While some parents still hold on to  I did it and I'm ok  or  kids just want to have a good time , binge drinking, along with mixing alcohol and drugs, is not  experimenting or  kids being kids .  The practice teeters on the edge of a potential tragedy. 

We encourage you and all residents to get involved with CASA and attend our many fall prevention and parent education programs.  On Wednesday, October 29th at 7:30 p.m. in Manhasset High School's Black Box Theatre, we invite you to  Drug Trends & Young People which will feature the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and Linda Ventura, a Kings Park mom who will share her touching story about her son's struggle with sobriety and his subsequent death from a heroin overdose. The evening will also provide Naloxone Training where participants will learn about the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, how opioids effect the body/mind/mood, how Naloxone works and the steps necessary to respond to an overdose and administer Naloxone. Please note that you must be age 18 or older to receive a Naloxone kit. Registration is required on our  SignUp Genius link here  or at  manhassetcasa.org .

While parenting and prevention education are imperative aspects in the prevention of underage drinking and drug use,  community support is just as crucial.   We are gravely concerned for the health and safety of Manhasset's t(w)eens and ask for your help to work together as a community to prevent this problem and protect our children.   Please talk to your friends and neighbors about your concerns regarding underage drinking and drug use and ban together to curtail the problem. Also, if you are concerned about an underage drinking party or about an establishment that is serving or selling alcohol to minors, you can anonymously call  1.866.UNDER21 or the local precinct at 516-573-6300.   
 
With the high rates of binge drinking reported by Manhasset teens, we also urge you to talk with your t(w)eens and neighbors about  New York State's 911 Good Samaritan Law (click here for more info) . Teens and adults sometimes delay getting lifesaving help to revive an overdosed t(w)een because they are afraid of getting into trouble by calling the police.  

There is much at stake for our children and we have much to do as a community to ensure that all Manhasset youth grow up to live a full and healthy life.

Manhasset CASA Executive Board
Drug Trends & Young People
Understanding Today's Opioid Epidemic

Join Manhasset CASA during Red Ribbon Week on Wednesday, October 29th for  Drug Trends & Young People: Understanding Today's Opioid Epidemic (click here for flyer).The program features the  Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence (LICADD) and will address today's o pioid epidemic on Long Island, drugs that are popularly being used and how they have changed, causes of drug use, ways to tell if someone is struggling with drugs and provide healthy coping skills for teens. 

Linda Ventura, a Kings Park, Long Island mom , will also share her touching story about her son's struggle with sobriety and his subsequent death from a heroin overdose. Naloxone training will also be available. Naloxone is the antidote medication that reverses the effects of an overdose from opioids (e.g. heroin, methadone, morphine).  Participants will learn about the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, how opioids effect the body/mind/mood, how Naloxone works and the steps necessary to respond to an overdose and administer Naloxone.

Registration is required and y ou must be Age 18 or older to receive a Naloxone kit. Register at  www.manhassetcasa.org  or click here for our SignUp Genius Link. 

Please note that translation will be available in Chinese.  Click here for our flyer.

Generation Rx & Safe Medication Practices 
Town of North Hempstead & Local Precincts Collect Your Meds

U sing prescription medications as directed by a health professional and never sharing prescription medication with others are key messages when it comes to adopting safe medication practices for life.  In addition to storing your medications securely to prevent others from taking them, properly disposing of medications that you no longer need is key in the prevention of prescription drug misuse. 

With the help of Manhasset CASA's partners, residents need not go far to dispose of their unnecessary pharmaceuticals. In fact, last weekend, the Shed the Meds event at Shelter Rock School collected about 1,500 lbs. of pharmaceuticals! Special thanks to Senator Jack M. Martins and the NYS Senate 7th District staff for coordinating and promoting the event to residents across the North Shore! 

Please save the date for the Town of North Hempstead's S.T.O.P. program on Sunday,
October 30th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and clean out your medicine cabinet of any unnecessary or expired medications. You can disguard them at North Hempstead Beach Park's North Lot (175 West Shore Road, Port Washington) in an environmentally safe manner while protecting our kids! For more information about how to dispose of pharmaceuticals safely call 311 or go to northhempsteadny.gov or click here for our flyer.

Can't make the event? Residents can always dispose of their unwanted medications at any Nassau County Police Department Precinct or Police Center. The disposal bin is located in the lobby and they are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days in the year!

SAVE THE DATE: Keys to Effective Parenting
featuring Manhasset's Favorite Parent Educator

Manhasset's Elementary School Parents (K-6) are invited to a special Red Ribbon Week Parent Presentation featuring Kim Fanter, M.S. Counseling on either Tuesday, October 25th at 7:30 p.m. at Munsey Park School or Wednesday, October 26th at 9:30 a.m. at the SCA Joint Parent Council Meeting at the Shelter Rock School.

This unique parenting  workshop, featuring Kim Fanter, Manhasset Parents' favorite Parent Educator, will address how relationships are the foundation to everything, the four critical needs of our children, three tips every parent needs to know to set/enforce limits, as well as how to strengthen our parent-child relationship. 

For more information, contact Manhasset CASA at 
STOP. THINK. CONNECT
An Internet Safety Presentation for Grades 7-12

Students in Grades 7-12 are invited to STOP. THINK. CONNECT on Tuesday, November 1st at 3:30 p.m. in the Manhasset High School Auditorium.  Police Officer Sharon Galvin of the Nassau County Police Department will provide an upfront and candid presentation about internet safety, social networking and the consequences of just one click!

Students will learn about how online actions can have real-world consequences. Discussion will include cyberbullying, consequences of sending inappropriate pictures and texts, personal safety and privacy, tactful interactions and understanding that once you post, you cannot take it back. Click here for our flyer!

For more information, contact Manhasset CASA at casa_org@manhassetschools.org . 

Active Parenting NOW!
For Parents with Children K-6

Join us at Manhasset Public Library on three consecutive Thursdays: November 3rd, 10th and 17th for our parent education series featuring Tim Jahn, M.Ed of the Cornell Cooperative Extension's Family Health & Wellness Program. 

The video-based parent education program focuses on skills in communication, problem solving and conflict resolution. This series will build on the principles of our previous Active Parenting Series and discuss 
  • How parents can build courage and self-esteem in children
  • How to deal with power struggles and 
  • Understanding and redirecting misbehavior as well as handling anger
The series is sponsored by Senator Jack M. Martins, the Manhasset Public Library and Manhasset CASA. Register on our    or CASA's homepage at manhassetcasa.org.

Back to School Balancing Act for Middle Schoolers
Ins ight from Cornell's Family Health & Wellness Specialist 

Parenting isn't easy! In collaboration with Cornell's Family Health and Wellness Staff, Manhasset CASA is happy to connect you with Cornell's Blog for raising healthy and confident children of all ages!

Tim Jahn, M.Ed, our Active Parenting Now Educator and Human Development Specialist at the Extension, discusses ideas on h ow parents can help their pre-teens balance school work and peer awareness.   Click here to read more...
Members Make A Coalition
Join or Renew your CASA Annual Membership

Please join or renew your 2016-17 membership as it does "take a village" to keep our children safe and healthy! Since 2001, Manhasset CASA has existed as your prevention resource and we strive to reach youth before they are in trouble with illegal substances by connecting parents, school, youth and the community as partners in this common goal.   Click here for our 2016-17 registration form .

We greatly appreciate your support and hope you will Like Us on Facebook or visit our website at manhassetcasa.org to learn more about teen and college trends in risk behavior as well as parenting! 
Manhasset Community 
Coalition Against Substance Abuse (CASA), Inc. 
P.O. Box 392
Manhasset, NY 11030
(516) 267-7548
casa_org@manhasset.k12.ny.us
  
Manhasset CASA exists as a resource to reduce the illegal, underage use of alcohol, tobacco, & other drugs among its youth, before they are in trouble, by connecting parents, schools and the community as partners in the common goal.  In 2013, CASA was honored to receive its second five year Drug Free Communities Support Grant (DFC) by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).  Our goals are to reduce substance abuse among youth and, over time, among adults; and to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, private nonprofit agencies, and federal, state, and local governments to support the efforts of our community coalition to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth.