Assembly Task Force Addresses Heroin Use in Long Island Communities

In an effort to combat illegal drug use, the New York State Assembly Minority Task Force on Crime in our Communities held a roundtable discussion at the Levittown Public Library Thursday to highlight the drug problem in Nassau County, share information about efforts to fight increasing drug use and exchange new solutions and tactics to continue the fight against illegal drug use in Nassau County communities.

Assemblyman and Task Force Chairman David McDonough (R, C, I – Merrick) led the discussion, which included contributions from community members, elected officials, members of the Nassau and Suffolk County police departments and school representatives. The primary focus of the task force was to address education, prevention and treatment. A final report will be issued after future hearings around New York State.

Although task force members discussed the threats illegal and legal drugs present, heroin was an integral focus of the forum.

"The heroin problem is our Number One priority," Nassau County Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey said. "You can't rest your hat only on enforcement. You need to get to the heart of the problem and work towards education and prevention. "

"Young people are overdosing and dying," Nassau County Police Detective Lieutenant Andrew Fal said. "These are personal tragedies. Through education, we have to make this so repugnant that kids will not do it."

Schools have been heavily involved and proactive, especially at the elementary school level. County schools have worked with local law enforcement agencies to educate students and communities about the problem and prevent drug use. According to Mulvey, police have been involved for more than a year and a half with presenting educational heroin awareness programs to schools and parents, including signs and symptoms they may observe with their children and the danger of pharmaceutical drugs in their households.

"The drug education from kindergarten on is tremendous, and that has to be carried through even more aggressively now that we have this very serious problem on our hands," Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray said.

A significant obstacle in fostering awareness and personal responsibility has been the reluctance of parents and students to comprehend the threat.

"There is a sense among suburbanites that drug abuse happens more in the urban areas, but it's all out here on Long Island and crosses every neighborhood demographic," Murray said.

In an effort to encourage parents and students to become more informed about the issue, school officials have considered several measures designed to promote awareness. However, there is a sense among some in the educational community that these steps – although significant - are insufficient.

"We have put a greater emphasis back on drugs," Levittown UFSD Director of Pupil Services Todd Winch said. "We introduced an anti-drug curriculum. We had Dr. Stephen Dewey speak with students, and he will return in April. We are re-tooling Levittown Educators Against Drugs (LEAD) week, which includes awareness programs such as having presenters talk about drugs in high school. We have drug counselors in middle and high schools. But there has to be something else. We have such a difficult time getting parents to show up to events. It isn't that they aren't good parents, but we haven't found the mechanism to attract parents to come."

One suggestion proffered was to require parents to appear at information sessions in order for their children to attend school functions. This concept has already proven effective as, according to McDonough, Kennedy High School successfully compelled parents to attend an event, attendance at which was mandated in order for their son or daughter to receive a parking permit. Winch broached the idea of requiring parents to attend a drug awareness event in order for students to attend the prom.  

Budget limitations have served as an impediment to formulating comprehensive solutions to the drug problem. Mulvey said he was "incensed" when he read the administration of President Barack Obama plans to cut federal funding for schools and drug prevention programs. He and then-Nassau County Legislator Ed Mangano sent letters to local senators to restore funding because, according to Mulvey, "it comes at a very critical time on Long Island when we are aware of the problem and working together to seek solutions."

The cost of treatment was also a major topic of discussion. Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence Prevention Educator Patty Rykert said Nassau University Medical Center is the only hospital in the county that will admit people without insurance and assist them in receiving Medicaid. Many insurance companies require that a patient fail several times in an outpatient setting before subsidizing treatment and treatment has been limited by overcrowded facilities.

"This is a medical situation once it becomes a full-blown addiction," Rykert said. "We need to train educators and law enforcement in overdose prevention and extend programs to include relapse prevention education."

"We have to see if we can make sure treatment is a more coverable item," McDonough said. "Some families can't afford treatment and go without. We have to get better coverage from the insurance community."

The dependence on drugs has collateral damage. According to Fal, the price of heroin is initially "relatively low" in order to encourage youths to begin use. However, intensified police enforcement has reduced the supply, leading to a price increase.

"In some communities, kids are committing other crimes to pay for the drug use due to the price increase," McDonough said.

Despite hundreds of arrests annually and more widespread drug abuse throughout local communities, Task Force members believe county residents have not been fully informed about the issue and its ramifications. 

"It is important for the media to make the public aware that this is a serious problem," McDonough said. "We can't keep waiting for more tragedies to [pass legislation] – we must do it now."

As one veteran Nassau County Police detective said during the forum, "We must mandate schools to educate about the dangers of drug use at a young age or else we will lose a generation."