As headlines across the region spotlight the rising heroin epidemic rampant among young people, some teens decided this weekend to just say “no” to drugs and alcohol and instead, opt for healthy alternatives and prevention.
Susan Toman of The Guidance Center hosted a teen dance Saturday night at Long Island Head Start on Main Bayview Road, and 84 teens turned out for the music of DJ Willie G. — Mattituck’s Will Gilldersleeves.
“His hip hop playlist had the teens from Southold Town, Riverhead and beyond dancing all night,” Toman said.
Reflecting on the event, Toman said, “The teens were great.”
Not only were all well-behaved, she said, but in addition to the fun, those in attendance learned critical life lessons on the dangers of binge drinking.
“The information discusses how to respond if someone is overdosing from binge drinking. The teens also received information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse regarding the brain’s response to marijuana, which discussed the loss of memory and apathetic attitudes that can develop when smoking marijuana.”
In addition, the information addressed medical uses for marijuana, such as treatment for nausea and pain, she said.
The mission of The Guidance Center is to “strengthen families with prevention education to improve the well-being of people of all ages within the community through collaboration utilizing innovative and effective programs that enable everyone to learn, to work, and to thrive,” according to the organization’s website.
