Parents and residents are encouraged to find out more about how alcohol and illegal substances affect our physical and mental health and overall well being. Below are resources from local, state and national organizations regarding the dangers of alcohol and drugs.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
NIDA’s mission is to advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health. The above link provides the facts about the most commonly abused drugs. Each drug page includes a brief overview, street and clinical names, the effects of the drug on the brain and body, statistics and trends, and relevant publications and articles written by NIDA researchers and scientists.
U.S. Surgeon General's Report:
Facing Addiction in America is the first U.S. Surgeon General’s Report of Alcohol, Drugs and Health. The report reviews what we know about substance misuse and how we can use that knowledge to address substance misuse and related consequences.
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Get Smart about Drugs
The DEA website provides a host of information for parents and residents regarding drugs of abuse, how they affect the teen brain, the use of social media in the teen world as well as drug trends and paraphernalia.
Know the Risks: E-cigarettes
Parents can learn about one of the fastest growing substance abuse trends for teens and young adults: e-cigarettes and vaping. This website is a product of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, created through a partnership between the Office of the U.S Surgeon General and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health.
Nassau County Heroin Prevention Task Force
The task force is dedicated to reducing the demand for heroin; educating citizens of the prevalence of the heroin problem, the signs and symptoms of addiction, and the resources available; and eliminating drug related crime in our communities, through public education, advocacy, media, law enforcement, and legislation.
New York State Combat Heroin and Prescription Drugs
The Combat Heroin website was developed to fight the growing heroin and prescription opioid epidemic in New York State. This website includes 1)the warning signs of addiction, 2) helpful hints for having conversations with young people, 3) information on accessing treatment, 4) guidance on getting involved in your community. Video clips feature real New Yorkers sharing their experiences with this chronic disease.
THP Project Purple
THP Project Purple is an initiative of The Herren Project, a non-profit foundation established by former NBA basketball player, Chris Herren that assists individuals and families struggling with addiction. The THP Project Purple initiative was launched to break the stigma of addiction, bring awareness to the dangers of substance abuse and encourage positive decision making to navigate life’s challenges.
SAM Smart Approaches to Marijuana
SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) seeks to align marijuana policy and attitudes about the drug with 21st-century science, which continues to show how marijuana use harms the mind and body. SAM works to bridge the gap between the public’s understanding of marijuana and science’s understanding of marijuana.
Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island
Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island (TAC) is funded by the New York State Tobacco Control Program through a grant administered by the American Lung Association of the Northeast. TAC consists of a community engagement component and a youth action component branded as Reality Check LI. Their work focuses on establishing tobacco-free policies to make Long Island a healthier place to live. TAC also supplies free tobacco education and cessation literature to local agencies and schools. Information is provided regarding the dangers of tobacco, e-cigarettes and hookah.
