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Town to Host Fentanyl Community Forum with LI Council Against Drug Dependence, DEA, & the United States Attorney’s Office


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 20, 2023
MEDIA CONTACTS: Brian Devine | (516) 869-2475

Town to Host Fentanyl Community Forum with LI Council Against Drug Dependence, DEA, & the United States Attorney’s Office 

North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town’s Substance Misuse Advisory Council today announced an upcoming community forum that will address the devastating fentanyl poisoning crisis and opioid epidemic. The community forum, which will be held in partnership with the Long Island Council Against Drug Dependence (LICADD), the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, will be held on April 25th at 7pm at North Hempstead Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset. In addition, at the conclusion of the forum, attendees will be trained to administer lifesaving Narcan.

“The opioid epidemic has hit dangerous new heights in the past year, with over 110,000 people dying nationwide due to drug overdoses, which equates to over 300 people a day,” Supervisor DeSena said. “Many lives can be saved through prevention, treatment, and recovery, and I believe not only is the Town able to do something to help the problem, but we also have a moral obligation to act as soon as possible. I am so proud that the Town will be hosting this community forum, and I want to thank my Substance Misuse Advisory Council for all the hard work they’ve done to make this event a reality.”

Before becoming became Town Supervisor, Jen DeSena dedicated her time and energy to educating and empower parents and families about the risks of alcohol and other drugs as the Executive Director of the Manhasset Coalition Against Substance Abuse. In her first year in office, Supervisor DeSena established the Town’s Substance Misuse Advisory Council to help combat the scourge of the opioid epidemic.

The Substance Misuse Advisory Council currently includes Steve Chassman, Executive Director of LICADD, Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, Director of Outreach Services at the North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, Director of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment at Northwell Health, and Drew Scott, former longtime News 12 anchor and current reporter for Newsday TV, who has dedicated his life to fighting addiction and raising awareness in the memory of his granddaughter Hallie who tragically passed in 2017 to an overdose of heroin laced with deadly fentanyl.

“The Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) commends the leadership of North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jen DeSena for addressing and responding the public health issue of fentanyl poisoning adversely impacting Long Island families at an alarming rate,” Steve Chassman, Executive Director of LICADD said. “It is imperative that we inform our Long Island communities of the tainted illicit drug supply leading to an increased rate of overdose and poisoning of too many substance users here on Long Island and across the country. We look forward to providing community awareness and education about the fentanyl crisis at this upcoming public forum.”

This free to attend educational community forum will include guest speakers from the Department of Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office. Registration is required as space is limited. To register, call 311 or (516) 869-6311.








 
 

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