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This week has been dubbed National Prevention Week by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In an effort to promote awareness that we all need to be alert to the potential dangers of substance abuse, Operation Survival has partnered with Crown Heights stores to relay a timely message for parents and educators: Teach Kids to Refuse to Use! This message reminds us to empower our children with the confidence and skills to turn away from people and situations that promote the use of alcohol or other drugs.

“There is research that demonstrates that over 80% of young people ages 10-18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision to drink or not drink” said Rabbi Yaacov Behman, Program director of Operation Survival

“Working together as a community we can strengthen our children so that they grow up safe and healthy. Many thanks to the businesses who understood the importance of this message enough to trade in their usual shopping bags for the ones with this timely message”. Said Behrman.

Within the last 10 months, Operation Survival trained over 100 Crown Heights residents in Opioid Overdose prevention and distributed free naloxone kits.

(YWN Headquarters – NYC)