This October, approximately 100 people across the local area participated in drug prevention activities with Levittown Community Action Coalition (LCAC) and Levittown Young Organizers United to Help (LYOUTH) in observance of Red Ribbon Week.
On Monday, October 23rd, LCAC and LYOUTH 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.
LYOUTH also created daily morning announcements on the topic of youth substance use to be shared with all of the Levittown and Island Trees middle and high schools throughout Red Ribbon Week. These announcements addressed topics of brain health, how to say no to peer pressure, the danger of fentanyl, healthy alternatives to substance use, and where to access resources for any issues regarding mental health or substance use.
