“Let’s Be Blunt”

Cannabis safety awareness campaign brings attention to responsible cannabis use for Long Islanders

To kick off their collaborative cannabis safety awareness campaign entitled “Let’s Be Blunt,” Partnering in Action and Change for Tomorrow (PACT) and Town of Babylon Cares – two leading community prevention coalitions based on Long Island – held a press conference to announce the new outreach and educational campaign.

As a society, keeping our youth, families and community members safe is of paramount importance. Now that cannabis is legal for recreational adult use and licensed sale in New York State for those 21 years of age or older, Nassau County-based PACT and Suffolk County-based Town of Babylon Cares have banded together to provide education and awareness about properly securing cannabis and not driving while under the influence.

Set to launch this month, the landmark cross-county cannabis campaign entitled “Let’s Be Blunt” includes outreach through local print media outlets, digital marketing, radio public service messages and social media. The first ad in the campaign, featuring imagery of an effective way to properly secure cannabis at home, emphasizes the message “Don’t let youth get high on your supply. Keep it secure.” The second ad shows a cannabis user getting a ride from friends and the message “Don’t drive high. Get a ride.”

Multiple sectors of community partners contributed to the messaging to ensure it resonates with the public and families to encourage keeping cannabis in a secure place in the home and deterring people from operating a vehicle after smoking or consuming edible cannabis products.

Regulations regarding the sale of cannabis products locally and state-wide are currently being finalized, and the first cannabis retailer on Long Island is slated to open early this year. While recreational adult-use cannabis is legal, it is critical to be aware that the following are illegal:

It is illegal for those under age 21 to consume cannabis recreationally in any form. Adults should keep cannabis products secure and away from youth and pets to prevent accidental consumption.

It is illegal to consume cannabis in a motor vehicle and to drive under the influence of cannabis. Drivers who are under the influence should get a ride from a designated driver or car service.

Speakers at the “Let’s Be Blunt: Cannabis Safety Awareness Campaign Press Conference” shared key points and messaging of the campaign, impact statements, and how the coalitions are working together to educate parents and the public on ways to secure and use cannabis responsibly.

Speakers included: Pamela Mizzi, MS, CASAC II, LMHC – Director, Long Island Prevention Resource Center at Family

Service League; Hillary Alvarez, MPH, CHES – Prevention Coordinator, PACT; Lori-Ann Novello, MSW, CASACt – Executive Director, Town of Babylon Cares and Lindenhurst Community Cares Coalition, Inc. (Lindy Cares); Maureen McCormick – Special Litigation Assistant District Attorney, Suffolk County DA’s Office; Adrienne LoPresti, LCSW-R – Executive Director, YES Community Counseling Center; Tom McKevitt – Nassau County Legislator; and Rich Schaffer – Town of Babylon Supervisor. Educational materials and messaging about properly securing cannabis can be found by visiting either of two websites: https://pactyes.org/lets-be-blunt or https:// babyloncares.org/lets-be-blunt/.

About Partnering in Action and Change for Tomorrow (PACT): YES Community Counseling Center’s PACT (Partnering In Action and Change For Tomorrow) is funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention

(SAMHSA-CSAP). PACT is comprised of five communities and school districts (Farmingdale, Island Trees, Levittown, Massapequa and Plainedge) including collaboration with Farmingdale Alcohol Drug Abuse and Prevention Team (ADAPT), Levittown Community Action Coalition (LCAC), Massapequa Takes Action Coalition (MTAC), as well as the Long Island Prevention Resource Center (LIPRC), Nassau County Police Department and National Guard Counter Drug Task Force. PACT addresses our nation’s top substance abuse prevention priorities among persons aged 9-20 – underage drinking, marijuana, and opioid use. PACT seeks to understand patterns of youth and young adult underage drinking and substance use to best address targeted prevention, training, education and outreach. For more information about how communities are working together to promote healthy youth, contact PACT at (516) 799-3203, ext. 131, or email pact@ yesccc.org.

—Submitted by the Let’s Be Blunt Campaign