HHS PTSA Spearheads
Drug and Alcohol Battle
The twin scourges of drug and alcohol abuse were the focus of a recent Huntington High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association initiative, which included a school-wide assembly program and an evening presentation and workshop.
The school day assembly included the airing of a pair of public service announcements created by juniors Sam Weitzner and Spencer Pashkin, who are both participants in the high school video arts program.
The unique PTSA initiative consisted of a three person panel that spoke about the daily battles occurring in the fight against drug and alcohol abuse. Some of the hardest hitting words were spoken by “Sara,” a 21 year old recovering addict, who told her story of addiction and continued recovery. “Debbie,” Sara’s mom, recounted the dark days of Sara’s journey and how she struggled as a parent trying to help her daughter.
Steve Pinto, the Life Center’s director of operations, offered a professional point of view about the current culture of drug and alcohol addiction faced by today’s young people.
“Sara’s harsh reality is that she was the exception among her friend group of addicts, most of which are dead or in jail,” said Laura Mills, Huntington High School’s PTSA president. “Sara was ultimately able to accept treatment and turn her life around. Her story of hitting rock bottom, almost losing her life and continuing to work on her sobriety is a powerful message for our students to heed.”
Many students stood queried the panel during a question and answer session. The students and teachers in the auditorium listened with rapt attention to the presentation.
A second presentation was held in the evening for parents and any teachers and students that also wanted to attend the session in the high school cafeteria. The format was similar to the one held during the regular school day. Huntington School District social worker Kathy Costa and Huntington High School business teacher Suzie Biagi, who has a family member recovering from addiction, joined the panel for the evening workshop.
“In attendance were many students and parents who received a wealth of knowledge and understanding about this difficult and dangerous epidemic,” Mrs. Mills said. “There were professionals from the Life Center and the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence to offer advice after the presentation.”
To help make workshop participants more comfortable, the Huntington High School student government provided coffee while the PTSA added a selection of baked goods.
Mrs. Mills said the success of the program was the result of the contributions of her fellow PTSA executive board members, Huntington High School Principal Carmela Leonardi, Assistant Principal Brenden Cusack, high school dean Paul Caleca, video arts teacher Heather Swan, the Life Center’s Barbara Posillico and Anthony Ferrandino of the Northport-East Northport Community Drug and Alcohol Task Force.