SAFE Coalition Hosts Opioid Prevention Presentation at GCHS

The SAFE Glen Cove Coalition, the Glen Cove School District Glen Cove Police Department and Retired Detective of Nassau County Police Department Pamela Stark recognize the growing trend of opiate/heroin abuse spreading across Long Island. In an effort to combat the increasing number of opiate abusers and fatal overdoses Detective Stark provides awareness presentations across the county to students, parents, community members and professionals.

On June 4, 2018, Retired Detective Stark in conjunction with the Coalition's School Committee Chaired by Peter Cardone, Director of Health and Physical Education for the Glen Cove School District, visited the senior class at Glen Cove High School to deliver an important message about prescription drug misuse and abuse entitled “Opiate Evolution to the Perfect Storm” to the Glen Cove High School’s Senior Class.

The program’s PowerPoint presentation addressed the dangers of opiate abuse, and the alarming trends that indicate an increase in the incidence of opiate related admissions to treatment facilities, emergency room visits and fatal overdoses. Retired Detective Stark discussed warning signs and dangers associated with substance abuse. She addressed the increasing potency of street drugs today and warned students that drugs including Marijuana are often laced with other substances including heroin in order to “hook” the consumer. “Weed is expensive on the street, and heroin is cheap” Stark stated speaking to how users unknowingly become addicted to heroin among other illicit drugs and that heroin is so potent that it can be easily smoked.

Students were exposed to real life cases including one in which a Massapequa High School senior fatally overdosed on heroin shortly before her senior graduation in 2008. Retired Detective Stark sought to show students the real life and potentially fatal dangers associated with substance use. She encouraged students to seek medical assistance in cases where a potential over dose is suspected without fear of arrest under the Good Samaritan Law.

The SAFE Glen Cove Coalition is conducting a opioid prevention awareness campaign entitled "Keeping Glen Cove SAFE" to educate and update the community regarding the risks opioid use and its consequences. Education and raising awareness among youth and community members are key to preventing future use and overdoses. The Coalition encourages the community to become educated on resources available to family members or individuals’ struggling with opioid addiction by visiting the Opioid Awareness page on the SAFE website at www.safeglencove.org, or follow them on: www.facebook.com/safeglencovecoalition.