WHITE PLAINS, NY — The latest statistics on alcohol, marijuana and prescription drug use by Westchester and Rockland teens will be the focus of a forum Tuesday, sponsored by the Westchester Coalition for Drug and Alcohol Free Youth. The event, running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Westchester County Center, will feature Jack Claypoole, associate deputy director and administrator for Drug Free Communities at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The coalition is an umbrella group of 30 local organizations that work to prevent alcohol and drug use by teens. About 150 people are expected to attend the forum, titled “Youth Substance Use 2012: Applying Lessons Learned In Tackling Marijuana and Prescription Drug Abuse.”
County Executive Robert P. Astorino and District Attorney Janet DiFiore are honorary chairs of the coalition. Vito Pinto, director of the Westchester County Office of Drug Prevention and STOP-DWI, is the chair.
Astorino applauded the coalition for its latest effort to keep Westchester’s youth safe and healthy. “Most of our youth are making healthy decisions, but there is still so much more to be done,” said Astorino. “As we know, teen alcohol and other drug use can threaten their health and safety not just now but permanently.”
DiFiore said, “We are committed to working collaboratively with communities to stop those who provide alcohol and other drugs to our young people and to educate parents and teens about the dangers resulting from the use of these substances.”
Rep. Nita Lowey will be recognized for her advocacy in funding drug prevention and her continued support of Westchester and Rockland communities who receive over $1.7 million annually in grants from the Drug Free Communities program.
The forum is co-sponsored by the Rockland Preventing Youthful Drug Abuse Coalition, which provides leadership in coordinating Rockland County’s substance abuse prevention activities.
For more information about the event, contact Pat McCarthy Tomassi at Westchester County Office of Drug Prevention and STOP-DWI, (914) 995-4117.