LICADD to Participate in Town of Brookhaven's HOPE SUMMIT
The Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) today announced its participation in Brookhaven Town’s HOPE Summit to be held on September 22, 2009 and praised town officials’ commitment to addressing the rise in substance abuse among our region’s young people.
“This kind of leadership – exemplified by Supervisor Mark Lesko, Deputy Supervisor and Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh, and the Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau – is critical to our efforts to both address and prevent substance abuse among teens,” said LICADD Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds. “The increased availability of heroin and the misuse of prescription drugs pose new challenges for parents, educators and organizations like LICADD,” he added. “Forums such as these help us create the united front necessary to meet those challenges and protect our kids.”
The HOPE Summit will be held from 6:30-9:30PM at Brookhaven Town Hall and in addition to LICADD, will feature representatives from the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County Department of Mental Hygiene, the Comsewogue School District, Hope House and Outreach Project. A significant turnout is expected.
Deputy Supervisor and Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh praised LICADD for its eager participation in the HOPE Summit and for helping to increase awareness among more than 500,000 Town residents. “The use of prescription drugs and heroin is destroying so many families. Our criminal justice system is overwhelmed with this issue as well. It is not just the addict that suffers but damage caused to his circle of support can be devastating. The Town of Brookhaven and LICAAD share a mutual goal and we are pleased at the possibilities of what our partnership can achieve.”
One of Long Island’s oldest nonprofits, the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) provides screening, brief intervention and direct referrals to ongoing treatment for adults and adolescents struggling with addiction. LICADD also facilitates planned family interventions, conducts parent forums and substance abuse prevention programs in several Long Island schools. LICADD operates an Employee Assistance Program that serves 60,000 workers and their families in the tri-state area and has recently started an anger management program for both adults and adolescents.
More info about the HOPE Summit is available on the Town of Brookhaven website.
