The Grass isn't Greener on the Other Side
Facts outline public health/safety impacts of legalization
Thank you to all residents who came forward to educate lawmakers at the recent Nassau County Health Committee and Nassau County Task Force on Legalization and Regulation Meetings. Your voices were heard as Nassau County has voted to "opt-out" if New York State legalizes recreational use of marijuana. MTAC will continue to provide parents and residents with facts and data as to how marijuana legalization will affect the quality of life and public health/safety of families in the Massapequas.
In March, MTAC hosted Marijuana Legalization: Lessons Learned from Colorado for both students and community residents. Our presenter, Dale Quigley , provided real data as to how legalization has negatively affected Colorado's rates of crime, driving under the influence, emergency room admissions as well as high school graduation rates. His presentation was, in part, based upon a report from the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). We encourage all residents to read the report to further understand what is at stake for the children and residents of New York. Click here for the report.
MTAC Parent Survey
for parents with children ages 12-18
Massapequa Takes Action Coalition is interested in learning more about parents' views on issues regarding underage drinking, marijuana use, prescription drugs and other drug misuse in the Massapequas. The information gathered in the anonymous online survey will assist MTAC in the further development of their prevention efforts by defining underage drinking and youth marijuana use, and prescription drug misuse problems.

We greatly appreciate your participation and input! Click here for our survey!
Red Watch Band (RWB) Club Addresses
MTAC on Dangers of Toxic (Binge) Drinking
Massapequa High School's Red Watch Band Club members spoke with residents at MTAC's April General Coalition Meeting about the dangers of youth binge drinking in the Massapequas. April is Alcohol Awareness Month !

In the Massapequas,

  • 29% of 11th\12th grade students and 8.7% of 9th/10th grade students report binge drinking (having five or more drinks in a row one or more times within the past two weeks); and
  • 59% of all students (grades 7-12) do not believe people are at great risk if they binge drink (2018 NY PFS Student Survey).

While underage drinking is against the law , when youth engage in underage drinking, they will often consume more than 90 percent of their alcohol by binge drinking. Drinking too much and too quickly can lead to significant impairments in motor coordination, decision-making, impulse control, and other functions, increasing the risk of harm. Continuing to drink despite clear signs of significant impairments can result in an alcohol overdose.( National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA ) .

The RWB training teaches students the critical signs and symptoms of alcohol overdose/toxic drinking:

  • Person is passed out or semi-conscious and cannot be awakened;
  • Person vomits while sleeping or passes out and does not wake up;
  • Hypothermia (low body temperature) - person is cold, clammy, pale, or bluish color skin; and
  • Rate of breathing seems slow or irregular.

Joanne Waters and Kim Hession, Massapequa High School RWB Club Advisors, advise students they must always call police as alcohol poisoning is truly a medical emergency where "every second counts" to save a life. Under the New York State Good Samaritan Law , adults and teens will not get in trouble if they call for help in an alcohol or opioid overdose. According to the NIAAA , even if a victim lives, an alcohol overdose can lead to irreversible brain damage. Rapid binge drinking (which often happens on a bet or a dare) is especially dangerous because the victim can ingest a fatal dose before becoming unconscious.

Red Watch Band reinforces that whether you are a teen or adult, don't be afraid to seek medical help for anyone who has had too much to drink. Don't worry that they may become angry or embarrassed—remember, you cared enough to help. Always be safe, not sorry.

To learn more about how parents can talk with their teens about the dangers or binge and underage drinking, click here .
NASSAU COUNTY'S SOCIAL HOST LAW
You and anyone over the age of 18 are breaking the law if you give alcohol, marijuana or drugs to your teen’s friends who are under the age of 21, under any circumstance.

You and anyone over the age of 18 are subject to prosecution under the Social Host Law if you knowingly allow a person under 21 to remain in your home or on your property while consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages or drugs. 

A Social Host Law violation is a misdemeanor - a criminal conviction punishable by progressive fines and penalties: 
  • 1st offense is subject to a fine of $250; 
  • 2nd offense is subject to a fine of $500; and the
  • 3rd offense and future offenses are subject to a fine of $1000 and/or up to a year in jail.

Always CALL 911 in a life-threatening emergency Call the Nassau County Police Department 7 th Precinct at (516) 573-6700 to ANONYMOUSLY report illegal purchase or consumption of alcohol by minors.
SADD Club Helps Tweens Be their Best Self!
Massapequa High School's SADD Club is busy this spring helping young students discover new skills to manage goals, relationships, and challenges they may face during adolescence. Thanks to Corrinne Alba, YES Community Counseling Center, Lisa Zuena, Massapequa Public Library and Angela Gallucci, Massapequa High School, for all your efforts to train, host and educate peer mentors as role models for this program!

All students grades 6-8 to are invited to the remaining sessions of Be Your Best Self! The program meets every Tuesday through April 30th (except April 23rd) at MPL's Central Avenue Building from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Register here!
OTHER MTAC Events & Programs!
MTAC Rx Take Back!
Help prevent prescription drug misuse by turning in unused/expired medication for safe disposal at MTAC's Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 13th from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Massapequa High School East Driveway District Office Parking Lot.

Unable to Attend? You can drop off unused or expired meds (no liquids or ointments) any time or/day at Nassau County Police Department/7th Precinct, 3636 Merrick Road, Seaford, NY or any Nassau County Precinct!
Parenting Workshops!
YESCCC and MTAC will host Active Parenting Now for parents with children in grades K through 6 at the Massapequa Public Library, Bar Harbor Building from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for six Tuesdays beginning April 30th through June 4th . Please contact Kathleen Coletta at (516) 799-3203 for registration and fees.Spanish translation is available.

Special thanks to Senator John Brooks for his support of the series and MTAC's mission to prevent substance misuse and promote healthy families.
Positive Alternatives for Tweens & Teens!
Teen Virtual Reality Demo!
Teens and tweens (grades 6 - 12) are invited to try a Virtual Reality (VR) on an Oculus Rift with VRParties at the Massapequa Public Library (MPL) Bar Harbor location on Saturday, April 13th from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. T(w)eens will play various Steam and VR exclusive games (such as Beat Saber, Fruit Ninja VR and Job Simulator) as well as learn more on the technology that makes VR possible!

Pow! Bam! Kablam!
MPL Bar Harbor will host a Comic Book Action Workshop for teens and tweens on Thursday, April 18, 2019 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Teens will learn about comic book art styles, and then create their own logos using various comic book art techniques. Click here to register! For more information regarding Masapequa PUbioc Library t(w)een workshops, contact Lisa Zuena, Young Adult Librarian, at (516) 799-0770 ext. 1 or
Prevention Matters!
Marijuana Use: Detrimental to Our Youth

Although increasing legalization of marijuana has contributed to the growing belief that marijuana is harmless, research documents the risks of use by youth are grave.

Marijuana is addictive, has adverse effects upon the adolescent brain, is a risk for both cardio-respiratory disease and testicular cancer, and is associated with both psychiatric illness and negative social outcomes. Evidence indicates limited legalization of marijuana has already raised rates of unintended marijuana exposure among young children, and may increase adolescent use. Those who used medical marijuana had an earlier age of regular marijuana use, and more marijuana abuse and dependence symptoms than those who did not use medical marijuana.

Federal Law has prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of marijuana for more than 70 years. However, with the discovery of potential medicinal properties of marijuana and the increasing misperception that the drug is harmless, there have arisen increased efforts to achieve its broad legalization despite persistent problems of abuse.

The result has been the same: limited legalization has led to greater availability of marijuana to youth.

The American College of Pediatricians encourages parents to take advantage of the “family table,” and to become involved in drug abuse prevention programs in the community or in the child’s school in order to minimize the risk of their children experimenting with drug use ( American College of Pediatricians ).
About MTAC
The mission of Massapequa Takes Action Coalition is to prevent and reduce substance misuse and high-risk behaviors within the Massapequas. Since 1997, we have been collaborating with Massapequa Public Schools, parents, residents, law enforcement, clergy, private and non-profit agencies, businesses, and federal, state and local governments to enhance our efforts.  This e-newsletter was developed under grant number 1H79SPO80744-01 from the ONDCP and SAMHSA . The views, opinions, and content of this publication are those of the authors and contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or policies of the ONDCP, SAMHSA or HHS.