Levittown, NY – Last week, approximately 300 people across the local area participated in drug prevention activities with Levittown Community Action Coalition (LCAC) in observance of Red Ribbon Week and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day.
On Monday, October 23rd, LCAC partnered with Massapequa Takes Action Coalition (MTAC) and Seaford Cinemas to offer a free showing of “Screenagers: Under the Influence,” a thought-provoking film about the issues faced by our youth in regards to substance use, mental health, and social media. Offered to community members, parents, and youth in the Levittown and Massapequa areas, the film provided strategies that parents and schools can use to encourage healthy decision-making, support teen mental health, and create healthy home environments.
The showing comes at an important time of year. Red Ribbon Week is a yearly, national prevention campaign that runs from October 23rd to the 31st and serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. This year’s theme was “Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free!”
The local coalitions also supplemented the film’s messages with resources on talking with your child about substance use and the dangers of substances such as vapes, marijuana, alcohol, and fentanyl. Community members are encouraged to visit lcacoalition.org for more information. YES Community Counseling Center, Levittown and Massapequa’s licensed substance use prevention and treatment provider, was also represented to provide support to community members seeking additional services for issues regarding substance use and mental health.
LCAC then hosted their biannual Drug Take Back Event on Saturday, October 28th at Wisdom Lane Middle School in partnership with Community Action for Social Justice and the Hispanic Alliance for Prevention. The DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for misuse of medications and how community members can prevent accidental ingestion, injury, or overdose in the home. At this year’s event, 420 lbs of prescription medication and 232 lbs of sharps were removed from Levittown homes. The next event will take place in April, but residents are encouraged to visit the DEA’s website to find nearby DEA-authorized medication collectors for secure drop-off throughout the year.