August 2021 NEWSLETTER Working Together Making the Greater Five Towns A Healthy, Safe and Drug Free Community 

NEXT VIRTUAL COALITION MEETING:  SAVE THE DATE PLEASE NOTE DAY CHANGE WEDNESDAY August 18 7:30 pm

SAVING LIVES COALITION COMMUNITY OUTREACH

VILLAGE OF CEDARHURST NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Thank you to the Nassau 4th Precinct Police Department for all that you do and for your continued support of the Saving Lives Five Towns Coalition. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. It provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

SAVING LIVES FIVE TOWNS COALITION KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE If you missed this event, and would like to view, please click on the picture below and go to our website.

The Dark Side of the Web & Social Media Addiction

July Zoom Event - See Presention/SLFT Website Dr. Eli Shapiro – The Digital Citizenship Project Dr. Joshua Wyner – Associate Principal HAFTR, School Psychologist Robert Ruppert, LMHC – Northwell Health Yossi Strickman – Project Trust

PARENT ACADEMY ‌

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

US overdose deaths hit record 93,000 in pandemic last year

NEW YORK (AP) — Overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government estimate released Wednesday eclipses the 72,000 drug overdose deaths in 2019 and amounts to a 29% increase. Experts say lockdowns and other pandemic restrictions isolated those with drug addictions and made treatment harder to get. Prescription painkillers once drove the opioid epidemic in the U.S. But now it is fentanyl, a dangerously powerful opioid. Overdose deaths in 2020 are just one facet of what was overall the deadliest year in U.S. history, with about 378,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

TEENS & ALCOHOL

5 REASONS TO TALK WITH YOUR TEEN ABOUT ALCOHOL TODAY ‌

Youth are drinking at younger ages. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics by the age of nine, children have a positive opinion of alcohol. The average teen tries alcohol for the first time at age 13 and by the time they are in high school one-third reported drinking in the last month. This means if you are raising a child that is nine years of age or older you should be talking with them alcohol. Parents are the #1 reason teens say they DON’T drink. Yes, you read that right. Teens who don’t drink alcohol overwhelming say the reason they don’t drink is a fear of disappointing or letting their parents down. Regardless of what you might think, your teens want your respect and want you to be proud of them. Let them know your rules about alcohol and the consequences from breaking those rules. Avoiding addiction According to the CDC, teens that drink before age 21 are four times more likely to become addicted to alcohol later in life. If there is a history of substance abuse or alcoholism in the family that risk is even greater. The longer you can put off that first drink the better.

Underage drinking related deaths are completely preventable. Every year 4,300 deaths are attributed to underage drinking. That averages to about 11 per day. According to a youth risk survey, in the last 30 days, 20% of high school students report riding with a driver who had been drinking. These deaths are completely preventable. Underage drinking is dangerous While death is the most extreme consequence of underage is not the only negative life altering consequence of underage drinking. According to the CDC youth who drink are more likely to experience: problems at school, legal trouble, unwanted or unplanned pregnancy, physical or sexual assault, memory problems and abuse other drugs.

MARIJUANA

HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! Join The Saving Lives Five Towns Coalition Please Contact: Susan Blauner, Director Substance Abuse Prevention, Awareness and Education 516.569.6733

Under the Auspices of:

The Mazer Family Fund

207 Grove Avenue Cedarhurst, NY 11516 PH: 516.569.6733