Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Pelham Together. The Pelham Examiner publishes press releases in the form received as a service to the community.

Being a teen today is different in so many ways from when we, parents and caregivers, were teens—notably in the area of substance use. The internet and social media make youth aware of drug and alcohol use at younger ages, marijuana use is becoming legal across the country, and access to drugs and alcohol have broadened.  The presence of fentanyl has made all drug use even more lethal, as it can be present in any illegal drug without one’s knowledge.  It’s more important than ever for adults to be aware of these risks, understand the lingo, and know what to look for in their kids’ lives.

Pelham Together and Student Assistance Services have collaborated to bring an interactive presentation on this topic to Pelham.  Hidden In Plain Sight is a program that involves an interactive presentation surrounding a mock set-up of a typical teen room.  Many drug and alcohol-use related items are in the room, and parents and caregivers are invited to search through and see how many they can find.  Pelham’s Student Assistance Counselor, Ms. Justine LaDisa, will be on hand to discuss trends and answer questions, and to point out all the things we missed!

Laura Caruso, Executive Director of Pelham Together, says about the program “Every day we hear more stories about young people being impacted by fentanyl, including fatalities. The dangers have become more prevalent, which means that even a teen who is just curious and trying a drug for the first time, may be putting their life at risk. Parents need to know as much as we can about what’s out there and talk to our kids about it.”

All are welcome at this FREE event held at the Daronco Townhouse on February 6^th at 7pm.  Click here to register.

About Pelham Together

Pelham Together is a not-for-profit, community-based organization located in Pelham, NY.  Our mission is to ensure a safe, healthy and vibrant community for and with all the youth of Pelham.  We do that by connecting the community, informing parents and families about youth-related topics and risks, and elevating and empowering our youth. www.pelhamtogether.org

Student Assistant Services (SAS) provides substance abuse prevention and early intervention services, programming, and training in schools, residential facilities, and communities in Westchester County. The Student Assistance Counselor implements Project SUCCESS, a national model program that has been proven effective in preventing and reducing teen substance use. Project SUCCESS is a school- based program that works to reduce the factors that put students at risk for substance abuse, while working to enhance the factors that will protect students from the risks.