Health & Fitness
East Islip's Grim Reaper Seeks To End Substance Abuse
The annual Ghost-Out Day remains the signature event in SADD's year-long substance abuse awareness campaign.
EAST ISLIP, NY - From East Islip School District: Guided by Students Against Destructive Decisions club adviser Bridget Lopiccolo, East Islip High School’s Grim Reaper – a SADD student volunteering for this somber task – “struck” 16 fellow students on March 28. The annual Ghost-Out Day remains the signature event in the club’s year-long substance abuse awareness campaign.
As a gong sounded every 20 minutes throughout the school day and Lopiccolo read police call transcripts about teens being killed as a result of drugs or alcohol, the Reaper chose its “victims,” who then wore black T-shirts and remained silent for the remainder of the day to represent the numerous lives affected by substance abuse.
“Our SADD club is making a difference and wants high school students to know this is preventable,” said Lopiccolo. “Overdose doesn’t have to be the No. 1 killer of people under the age of 50. We can stop it. Just don’t start using drugs or alcohol. Be the generation of change and change this statistic.”