Feldman is executive director of the McLean-based Safe Community Coalition, which educates youth about safety and is hosting a prescription drug drop-off event at the McLean Community Center on Saturday. What are the biggest safety issues facing youth in your area?
As is reflected in the recent Fairfax County Youth Survey Report, alcohol use and binge drinking, youth substance use and abuse, bullying and cyberbullying are all areas where continued prevention education is necessary. Adolescents coping with stress and its resulting byproducts … are frequent topics of discussion in our community. Prescription and over-the-counter medicine misuse, dating violence, and other peer pressure-related issues that can lead to early or unwanted sexual activity are also of major concern.
How are you working to curb those issues?
By working with our coalition partners, we facilitate community dialogues on various topics that bring experts and parents together to debunk myths, provide facts as well as other educational opportunities for youth and the community. Also, the SCC works with public and private schools to facilitate programs that encourage responsible decision-making skills.
Why are you having a medicine drop-off event?
First, the medicine drop-off encourages everyone to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unused and expired medicine that might otherwise contribute to teen drug misuse and abuse, accidental poisoning or intake by younger children, or cause damage to our environment and our water supply. Second, this activity raises awareness in the community about how important it is for parents and grandparents to monitor their prescription medicine; it might not be their teen but someone else who helps themselves to their medicine cabinet during a visit to their home.
What other events is the coalition planning?
The SCC’s next event will be on Thursday, June 2, at McLean High School. We are sponsoring an event … focused on sports, students, academics and stress.
