DEA plans largest heroin education effort ever on LI

Heroin is addictive and deadly. Too many young people don't understand the dangers.

It's a simple message federal officials and addiction experts hope to impress upon Long Island students and parents in a series of upcoming school events.

The Drug Enforcement Agency-led heroin symposiums are the agency's largest public education effort ever on Long Island.

"We hope that by educating the students we can show them that heroin use is not chic or fashionable, but is a poison that leads to disaster and heartache for all involved," said John Gilbride, special agent in charge of DEA New York.

In the past three years, police and addiction specialists in both Long Island counties have seen a sharp increase in heroin abuse. The age of people admitted to detox and treatment centers has dropped as the drug has lost its once-strong negative stigma.

Steven Cheeseman, principal of Bishop McGann-Mercy High School in Riverhead, said the assembly set for Tuesday for all 500 students plus staff will be the school's first to focus on heroin.

"I think we have to be realistic that in this world, these issues exist and it's our responsibility to give kids the best possible information," he said.

A public event on March 8 in the William Floyd High School auditorium will kick off a Healthy Choices Week, said Janet Gilmor, assistant superintendent in the William Floyd school district. After a district survey showed high interest in drug and alcohol prevention events, about 250 parents and students came to meetings with addiction specialists and police in November and January. Gilmor said heroin was foremost in their minds.

"Most parents had questions about early intervention and prevention, but at each of those meetings we've had parents tell us 'I really want to speak to someone because I'm concerned,' " she said.