This issue of the paper presents an upcoming event called Family University, which is brought to Glen Cove in part by SAFE, Inc. The event is meant to educate teens on the prevention of substance abuse. It comes after a study done through SAFE and the school district showed that there is a need for some education regarding underage binge drinking, marijuana use and depression.

SAFE was nice enough to invite the Record Pilot staff over to its offices in Glen Cove City Hall recently to discuss its general efforts. (They are not a part of the city government.) The organization oversees numerous valuable programs in Glen Cove around substance abuse prevention.

Regarding to teens, they said targeted efforts including Family U could become more important in the current economic environment. With talks of funding cuts to programs like Youth Bureau, SAFE's Dr. Sharon Harris said that idle hanging-out could become a major problem, creating the first step toward substance abuse.

For more information on programs targeted at all areas of the community, visit www.safeglencove.org.

M.A.P.