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Community Corner

Drug Free Massapequa Hears Addict's Tale

Monthly meeting also explores problems at Massapequa Preserve.

When Sye began drinking and smoking pot as a teenager, his parents had no idea because he still got straight 'A's in school.

About fifteen years later, his constant drinking and drug use left him with two near-death experiences, a police record, and failing health.

Sye, a recovering heroin addict, who didn't use his last name to preserve his anonymity, addressed Tuesday's meeting of Drug Free Massapequa.

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About 16 board members, concerned parents and residents listened to Sye as he described how drug use nearly destroyed his life.

It wasn't until his wife left him last year that Sye finally checked himself into rehab.  

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When he began the slow process of recovery, Sye weighed 285 pounds and had diabetes. A year and a half later, he is 70 pounds lighter and his diabetes has disappeared.

 Sye said he dropped out of St. Johns University to deal drugs, but he has since gone back to get his degree. That's only part of his turn around.

He is planning to take up stand-up comedy next month and says he has stopped drinking and doing drugs.

His advice to parents is to spend time with their kids and begin anti-drug education early.

"Kids come home, and they go straight to their room," said Sye. "They get anti-social."

"It's never too early to teach your kids about drugs," he added. "If they hear about it from their friends, they're going to think that it's fun. And it's not."

Also attending the meeting were Richard and Lisa Schary, full-time volunteers at Friends of the Massapequa Preserve.

Through a 14 minute video, they communicated their mission to protect the Massapequa Preserve from vandalism, dumping, fires and encroachments.

They also warned that the Preserve is a hot spot for drug deals.  

"There are problems inside the preserve with drugs. We've been fighting this problem for years," Richard Schary said. "There are about 10 to 15 known party spots [in the preserve] and the trick is to stay on top of it. That's why DFM is so important."

With the Schary's, members of DFM's board of directors and advisory board discussed the possibility of alleviating the situation by creating patrols in the area, although the lack of manpower is a challenge.

While DFM holds general meetings every month, the organization also sponsors fundraising and family awareness events that are open to the public. Recently, they held a cocktail hour and dinner to raise money to build a teen center, one of DFM's current goals. With 93 guests in attendance, the event was a success. The organization also held a successful fishing contest on Sunday.

"We want more volunteers to help raise awareness in our community," said co-founder Janice Talento. "Spreading the word is the best way to get parents to realize we have a problem. It takes all of us."

 

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