Drug Awareness Spread At St. Frances de Chantal

On March 20, a drug awareness lecture was held at  in Wantagh with speakers from treatment centers and victims of substance use talking to concerned residents about their experience. While the crowd was small, the life saving information shared hit home with everyone.

The lecture was hosted by Anthony Rizzuto, Clinical Coordinator of Power & Control Program/Provider Relations Representative for the Seafield Center in Westhampton Beach. "The goal behind this is to educate and empower the parents so they can do the same for their children," said Rizzuto. "Kids as young as 16 years old are now using heroine.  This is a serious problem, and there are ways to prevent disasters from happening."

Joe Venturelli of the Seafield Center said alcohol is the most commonly used drug, followed by Marijuana and the prescription drugs.  "The good news is that we have seen an overall decrease in drug use from the past, and cigarette smoking is at an all time low," said Venturelli. "However, teens using prescription drugs is at an all time high."  

Venturelli explained during her presentation that in 2008, 1.9 million youths between 12-17 abused prescription drugs, with 1.6 million abusing painkillers.  Each day, an average of 2,000 teenagers abuse prescription drugs, she said.

"Prescription drugs are the new gateway drugs," said Venturelli. 

The use of heroine has also spiked in teenagers.  According to Venturelli’s findings, this is in part due to the easy accessibility of RX drugs and painkillers.  "The heroine that is available today is more pure and more lethal than the heroine that was popular in the 70's," she said.

Steve Chassman, Clinical Director at the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) in Williston Park spoke with passion and energy at the forum.  "We need to check our attitudes, alcohol is a toxin and it kills more than any other drug," said Chassman. "Substance abuse is a mental illness, and it is 100% preventable.  We've had 450 heroine addicts come through our office at LICADD last month, and they all started with marijuana and alcohol."  

Chassman also emphatically stated how Marijuana affects one's memory and judgment.  "They hijack your ability to achieve your goals," he said.

Following statistics and information from treatment centers, the next speaker was Heather, an experienced user of drugs and alcohol.  She shared her heartbreaking experience as a drug user, and the effects it had on her and her family.  "Peace is granted to everyone, and I am grateful for fear.  Here I stand because of my family." 

In between tears, Heather continued with her experience at the support of everyone who attended.  "I needed what kills people to stay alive, and I’m here to tell everyone here that there is help out there.  Everyone has life in them."

The intense emotions that Heather brought were continued when parents Terri and Frank Kroll spoke of their now deceased son, Timothy Kroll, and how he lost his life to drug abuse.  Timothy was the victim of a now convicted drug dealer who posed as a medical doctor, Saji Francis. 

As Terri spoke of her son, she couldn't hold back her tears, and neither could anyone else.  She told of how Timothy began seeing Francis and how when he turned 18, he told their son that his parents don't need to attend their meetings anymore.  "Timothy wanted it this way, and we agreed," she said. "Little did we know what was happening."

Francis prescribed Timothy with oxycodone, which he became addicted to.  "He fell into a life of misery and torment with his addiction," said Kroll. "He eventually started using heroine, stealing from his friends and then from his family.  Suddenly our family lost the happiness and normality that we once had."

After four years of immense struggling, Timothy died in his bed on August 29 at age 23.  Following his death, the Kroll family relentlessly pursued the arrest and conviction of Saji Francis.  "If we can say anything here, it would be:  Don't be ashamed to talk about your problems," said Kroll. "Go home and start talking to your kids, find out what they are doing, be a parent."

After Kroll's story, Nassau County Detective John Bribiglia, displayed a table of what drugs look like, and spoke to the crowd.  He thanked the Kroll family for their tireless efforts to help put Francis behind bars.  

"It's important that we know what we're dealing with, what it looks like, and what we can do to prevent it," said Detective Bribiglia. "We as the police have to get involved with the community and get to the root of the problem."  

Bribiglia suggested that parents not be a friend to their children, but a parent.  "Who runs the house?  Its the parents, not the kids," he said. "Find out what they are doing, and get involved.  We need your help to fight this battle."