Cape Assist and local officials to host Town Hall on Substance Misuse

WILDWOOD, NJ – Cape May County residents will join local officials and prevention specialists on April 18 during the first of two Town Hall meetings hosted by Cape Assist and funded by their recently awarded STOP Grant.

During this community event, panelists made up of experts in law enforcement, government, as well as prevention, treatment and recovery will discuss the recent legalization of marijuana, how changes in laws stemming from the legalization have impacted enforcement of underage drinking and how the community can encourage and support youth in staying away from alcohol and marijuana.

“Marijuana laws changed other existing laws, some were even made unenforceable,” said Cape Assist’s Executive Director and CEO Katie Faldetta. “As a result of that, law enforcement cannot do much regarding underage substance misuse . These Town Halls are here to educate parents and the community about those law changes and their ripple effects."

Panelists including Joe Faldetta, Director of Prevention Services at Cape Assist, Krista Fitzsimons, Deputy Major of the City of Wildwood, and Captain Joseph Landis, Community Outreach Coordinator with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office will allow community members to share concerns and connect. Questions are to be submitted prior to and during the Town Hall via Cape Assist’s website, capeassist.org.

Cape Assist and the Cape May County CMC Healthy Community Coalition (CMCHCC) experts continue to express the importance of parents and community members deterring youth from underage drinking and marijuana use, the importance of education on how it affects the developing brain and overall consequences of underage use.

“With legalization, the perception of risk and the social norms have changed,” said CMC Healthy Community Coalition (HCC) Coordinator Natalia Leusner. “And when the perception of risk goes down, the youth use goes up.”

The first Town Hall will be held on April 18 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Wildwood High School Auditorium. The second scheduled Town Hall is planned to be held in Woodbine. Both will be recorded and be made available upon request.