Long Island’s Families in Support of Treatment (FIST) Rallies with Anti-Drug Forum in Wantagh Tonight
(Long Island, NY) Long Island families impacted by addiction and concerned about their communities will join addiction treatment providers, community educators, law enforcement officials and dozens of community organizations to speak out at an anti-drug forum tomorrow night in Wantagh.
The call to action – organized by F.I.S.T. (Families in Support of Treatment) gets underway at 7:00PM on Friday June 7, 2013 at St. Francis de Chantal Church, located at 1309 Wantagh Avenue in Wantagh. All community members, specifically families affected by addiction as well as treatment, prevention and recovery professionals, are invited to attend.
As thousands of Long Islanders are dealing with the devastating effects of substance abuse and addiction, concerned parents, community coalitions and treatment providers are joining together to provide a free evening of awareness, advocacy and resources to families in need. Over fifty Long Island-based organizations including LICADD, YES Community Counseling, Seafield, Caron Treatment Centers and South East Nassau Guidance Center will be present to offer help and healing in response to the current drug epidemic.
Local law enforcement and treatment professionals will present an overview of the current addiction epidemic, barriers to treatment, strategies for drug prevention and the signs and symptoms of abuse and addiction. Participants will hear testimonials and stories of recovery from family members and meet special guest Tara Conner, a public advocacy consultant for Caron Treatment Centers and former Miss USA 2006, who is celebrating six years in recovery. The evening promises to be educational, inspirational and will give local residents some great tools for keeping their families safer.
“This event is a call to action for our community to address Long Island’s growing epidemic of chemical dependency and addiction, and that means confronting and addressing the insurance industry’s refusal to pay for adequate substance abuse treatment,” explained LICADD Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds.
Anthony Rizzuto, Provider Relations Representative for Seafield Center in Westhampton Beach, said the devastation that drug addiction causes in families and in our communities is “no longer tolerable.” He added, “From shootings in pharmacies to driving under the influence, we are all impacted. This event will provide the audience with education, awareness, empowerment, resources, advocacy, a voice and most of all, hope!”
All community members are invited to attend this free, informative and inspirational event. For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Anthony Rizzuto at 516-316-6387 or Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds at 516-747-2606.
