OHS hosts drug forum for parents

Dozens of Oceanside residents, many of them parents with their teenagers, gathered at Oceanside High School Jan. 19 for an informational forum geared at educating the community about drug trends on Long Island and offering parents guidance on how to better protect their children. The forum, "Heroin on Long Island: Face the Facts," was the culmination of months of work, and builds upon the curriculum students have already been learning in class.

Sara Dowler, a health teacher at OHS and the district's health coordinator, hopes the forum is an eye-opener for parents. Dowler explained that the district has implemented more skills-based curriculum, with an increased focus on decision-making and stress management. The goal of events like the forum, she said, is to use the work done in schools as the foundation for an ongoing community partnership. To that end, the district invited guest speakers to talk about their personal experiences and give presentations on the effects of drug use.

The first speakers of the night were Victor and Doreen Ciappa, who lost their daughter Natalie, 18, to a heroin overdose in 2008. The Ciappas urged parents to be more vigilant of their children’s behavior, and tried to drive home the message that what happened to them could happen to anyone. They brought a large portrait of their daughter on her prom night to the forum to show the audience that Natalie never looked like what one might consider a typical drug addict. Natalie, a senior at Plainedge High School, was a cheerleader, an honor student, and a member of the all-county chorus. "She was well-loved, well-supported, and popular," Victor said. "In my eyes, a perfect kid." Still, they said, kids can make terrible mistakes — and it is the job of parents to be active in making sure they protect their children.