No VAPE November and the Great American Smokeout
No Vape November is a perfect opportunity to remind youth that the truth about vaping is often clouded and that vaping is not harmless. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2023 that 1 in 10 high school students and 1 in 22 middle school students had used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days.
Red Ribbon Week Celebrated in Pleasantville
"Red Ribbon Week provides an opportunity for students and communities to raise awareness about substance use. At Pleasantville High School (PHS) and Pleasantville Middle School (PMS), students celebrated Red Ribbon Week from October 23rd to 30th. During this time, they actively promoted drug-free lifestyles by encouraging parents, educators, and the entire community to join in the effort.
Throughout the week, a variety of activities were scheduled to engage and inform the community. These activities included distributing Red Ribbons school-wide, decorating the fence alongside the middle school, displaying a "Be Kind to Your Mind" banner, hosting a Trivia Wheel game, discussing trusted adults, taking the Red Ribbon Pledge, and having a "Wear Red Day" for both students and faculty." Andrea Restrepo, Student Assistant Counselor
An Opioid Overdose training using Narcan was held for the community on 10/25 at the Pleasantville Library. The event was co-sponsored by the Town of Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Pleasant Police and Pleasantville STRONG. Both Youth Officers, Detective James Chiarlitti (Pleasantville)and Detective Ben Spindler (Mount Pleasant) spoke about the importance of Narcan training and its role in saving young lives.
How to Continue the Conversation Beyond Red Ribbon Week
Parents are the first and often the most influential people in a child's life, especially when it comes to tough conversations about topics like drug use. We started the conversation during Red Ribbon Week, an annual drug prevention awareness campaign, and now it’s an opportune time to sit your children down and have this crucial discussion.
Talking to your kids about drug prevention is not a one-time event but an ongoing dialogue.
-Information provided by Informed Families- The Florida Family Partnership
For more information on these events, or if you're Interested in joining this important conversation,
please email pvillestrong@pleasantville-ny.gov
