Long Island Lawmakers Propose Landmark Bill to Combat Suburban Teen Heroin Epidemic

First law in the nation would alert schools of heroin-related arrests

Long Island, NY) – Nassau County Legislator Dave Mejias (D-Farmingdale) is proposing the first law of its kind in the country that would require law enforcement to notify school officials when an arrest is made for heroin possession and/or sale. This bill would combat the growing problem of teenage heroin addiction in the suburbs by improving communication between police and school officials. Legislator Mejias’ titled his legislation the “Natalie Ciappa Law” after an 18-year-old high school student from Massapequa who died of a heroin overdose at a party in June of this year.

“Parents and schools need a head’s up on heroin use before it’s too late,” said Mejias. “The initial signs of heroin use are not easily detectable. This law would give everyone a fighting chance to combat this insidious epidemic. Schools notify parents when a child in their district has head lice; the county should notify schools about possible heroin use and sales in their districts.”

Legislator Mejias’ proposed law would require police to notify the school district about anyone arrested in connection with heroin possession within that specific school district’s boundaries or the arrest of a student from that district anywhere in the county. Private school principals would also be notified of an arrest of one of their students.

Overall heroin related arrests in Nassau County have increased 50% since 2002. According to the District Attorney’s office, since 2007 there have been 37 suspected heroin overdoses in Nassau County and the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse hospital admissions for opiate overdoses are up all across Long Island. Adding to the increase use of heroin among suburban teens is that it is cheaper than ever before—a bundle that had cost $150 in 2006 costs an average of $90 and, in some areas it’s as low as $70 today. The National Drug Intelligence Center lists heroin and cocaine as the most serious drug threat in the New York area. Additionally, they say that heroin use among high school students is a particular problem with an alarming number of high school seniors in the United States using the drug at least once in their lifetime.

Suffolk County Legislator Wayne Horsley (D-Babylon) who is introducing similar legislation in Suffolk County said, “It is unacceptable for anyone with knowledge of heroin use or distribution to bury their head in the sand and not acknowledge that a problem is emerging on Long Island. The demons and drug-dealers that are peddling this poison to our children do not recognize county or district bounds and that is why Legislator Mejias and I are teaming up to effect an Island-wide approach that will do what is necessary to confront the demons that threaten the safety and lives of our children, head-on.”