Next Tuesday, February 2nd, the Garden City Community Coalition will be holding a program “How Can We Help Our Children Make Healthy Choices?” at 7:30 p.m. in the Garden City High School auditorium.

As a parent of teenagers, we are very alarmed at the growing use of drugs, especially heroin, on Long Island. Beyond that, national statistics on the increase in binge drinking and use of other drugs among young people is also frightening.

Garden City is fortunate that there haven’t been any high profile deaths due to teen drug use, but that is exactly what it is - fortune (i.e. good luck). This is a nice town, with lovely homes and great schools. But there is no reason to think that it is somehow exempt from the social problems that happen in other “nice towns” on Long Island. Arguably, kids who have a great deal of disposable income may be at a great deal of risk, since they can afford to experiment with drugs.

The Coalition will be hosting a neuroscientist from North Shore-LIJ who will explain how drug use impacts developing brains, and how parents can best help their kids avoid drugs and there will be representatives from several treatment centers on hand to provide further information.

It sounds like this program is a “must see” for parents.

Meg Morgan Norris

Publisher