Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice appeared at HB Thompson Middle School in Syosset last week to give a presentation of “Not My Child,” a program for parents that addresses the epidemic of heroin addiction.
“It’s heartbreaking to see a parent who has lost a child to heroin abuse talk about how they didn’t know about the warning signs of drug use, or where to go to for help,” DA Rice said.
Not My Child is a presentation that teaches parents about how to look for signs of drug use, and how abuse of heroin and other opiates isn’t just about shooting up with needles – addiction to opiates in pill form is a growing problem among young people in our communities.
“Knowing the signs of drug use is so important because when it comes to addiction – especially heroin and other opiate addiction – time is of the essence,” DA Rice said. “The longer we wait, the harder it is to tell a child about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.”
Started in September 2008, Not My Child is designed to help parents and educators spot heroin addiction in its early stages, and gives examples about how they can create partnerships to tackle this deadly disease.
