The PRIDE Committee, founded by the Sea Isle City School Board, flies aerial message to creates awareness of the link between prescription drug use and heroin addiction. The banner flew over the beaches from Cape May to Ocean City on Wednesday, August 10th. To fly this banner, generous donations were provided by Red Hat Wizards of Cape May County and the owner of Paramount Air, Barbara Tomalino. “The committee wanted to reach young people and their families and decided that the beach would be an effective way to reach a large number of families,” said Dan Tumelo, Sea Isle City School Board President and member of the PRIDE committee, “Children & young adults need to know the dire consequences of prescription drug abuse and the tragic results.”
“Most people don’t realize that most heroin addicts start experimenting with the prescription painkillers that they find in their medicine cabinets.” says Kim Mounce, Senior Coalition Coordinator Department Head of Community Initiatives at Cape Assist and PRIDE Committee member, “When the prescriptions run out or become too expensive, they may turn to heroin as a cheap and available alternative.”
The PRIDE Committee has been very proactive in educating the public and the community on the dangers of substance abuse. At the start of the school year, they distribute an information card with a list of community resources to children in Kindergarten through 12th grade in the Cape May County Schools as part of their Back to School, Backpack flyer initiative.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call 609-522-5960. To donate or for more information, visit capeassist.org, call (609) 522-5960 or like us on Facebook
The Pride Committee: Sea Isle City School Board founded and funded the Cape May County PRIDE Committee with a mission to create awareness and educate the community and school educators about the dangers of prescription drugs. Committee members include members of the Sea Isle City School Board, the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, the Cape May County Office of Education, the County Department of Human Services, Cape Assist and County Educators. The Sea Isle City School Board funds all the committee initiatives.
