Farmingville, NY - Supervisor Ed Romaine and the Town Council have declared October 23-31 as “Red Ribbon Week” in the Town of Brookhaven. This nationally recognized campaign serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to promote drug prevention and education, and to make a personal commitment to live drug free lives.
Brookhaven Town is holding programs to support drug prevention and education during “Red Ribbon Week” in October, including free Substance Abuse Awareness and Opioid Overdose Prevention (NARCAN) Program training class, sponsored by the Town’s Youth Bureau.
During these classes, residents eighteen and older are taught what an opioid overdose is, how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an overdose, how to administer Nasal NARCAN to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and what to do until EMS arrives.
The Brookhaven Youth Bureau is also holding free Substance Abuse Education Workshops for parents and guardians. These workshops discuss adolescent behavior and development, why young people use drugs, what drugs they are using and how to talk to adolescents about drugs. Warning signs for drug and alcohol abuse are also discussed in detail.
Brookhaven Town is continuing its work with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department to provide free drug testing kits to parents and guardians to help monitor the behavior of children under the age of eighteen. These kits are available through our Youth Bureau office.
Additionally, in the Town of Brookhaven, our New York State licensed clinical social workers provide crisis intervention, case management and counseling to residents ages 12 to 21-years-old at no cost.
Our youth often have difficulty developing coping skills and all too often will turn to drug and alcohol experimentation to manage their difficulties. By assisting our town’s youth with mental health issues, we are playing a proactive role in preventing substance abuse during adolescence.
If you know anyone who is suffering from drug and/or alcohol abuse, please contact the Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau at 631-451-8011. A licensed professional will provide critical information and referrals.