READER OF THE WEEK ISDEBORAH ROBSON OFAMITYVILLE
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Vol. 120, No. 24
WEDNESDAY, June 12, 2024
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Pets, Pets, Pets Column Page 14
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Babylon Town bringing anti-vaping program to schools Program developed by Lindenhurst Middle Schooler Vanessa Faith Probst
Vanessa Faith Probst, who was recognized last week for her work in putting together a student-led program to give her peers vital information about the negative effects of vaping, is shown at right at press conference as she is acknowledged by Lindenhurst Middle School Principal Frank Naccarato Jr. for her commitment. Shown in background, left to right are members of the S.C. P.D.’s First Precinct, Lindenhurst Mayor Michael Lavorata, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, S.C. Leg. KevinMcCaffrey and Lori-Ann Novello of Lindy Cares. By Carolyn James Spurred on by a singularly determined middle abuse by youths, showed that 84.4 percent beschool student, the Town of Babylon has joined lieved that vaping and e-cigarettes was the most with the Lindenhurst School District and Long Is- pressing issue among youth in the community. land Cares to put together a comprehensive pro- Mental health was listed second at 83.1 percent, gram addressing the issue of vaping by young peo- followed by alcohol and smoking at 79.2. Social ple. issues such as bullying, self-esteem, peer pressure The goal is to establish the program in every and violence followed at 72.7, 71.4, 66.2 and 62.3 school district in Babylon Town. The program is percent. Concerns about the use of hard and nonunique because it utilizes peer counselors and stu- prescribed drugs by respondents’ peers ranked dents to reduce the incidents of vaping in middle lowest in terms of a concern. and high school by providing information about “Some kids are doing drugs but it’s minor,” said the negative effects of vaping. one respondent to the survey. “Smoking and vapA survey completed by 77 middle and high school ing are more common and peer pressure is a very students last year conducted by Lindy Cares, a co- big issue. Kids want to look cool, so they do bad alition formed to prevent and reduce substance things.”
That was critically clear to Vanessa Faith Probst, a student at Lindenhurst Middle School last year. She became concerned about the long-term ill effects of vaping among her fellow students and decided she wanted to do something to address the problem. She initially raised the issue with the student advisory committee at the school, which discussed it and agreed it was serious, she said, but did not come up with a plan of action. “Everyone tells you ‘Say no to drugs,’ but no one tells you why,” said Vanessa, now a freshman at the Lindenhurst High School, who decided she wanted to find out what the impacts of vaping were on young people, physically and mentally, before moving forward on a plan address the problem. First, she reached out to her principal, Frank Naccarato Jr., who said he was impressed with her passion on the issue and asked her to put a proposal together. “Within days she came back to me with a power point presentation that outlined the negative effects of vaping, including the causes, the short- and long-term effects of vaping on the body, and the dangerous ingredients that are in some of the vaping products,” said Naccarato who was so impressed with the research that he reached out to Lori-Ann Novello, executive director of Lindy Cares, who helped move the project forward. A survey was completed to determine how young people view vaping, why they vape, how extensive the practice is and how it compares with other negative behavior in young people and Novello reached out to the Town of Babylon to expand the program. In addition, the Town was able to use some money from its American Rescue Plan funding to expand the program town-wide. “Vanessa’s work gives us hope that young people want to do the right thing,” said Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer at a press conference last week to unveil the program and acknowledge Vanessa’s work. “I guess I will have to speak to you through your (Continued on Page 3)