#TurnTheTide Seeks to Draw Awareness to Long Beach's Heroin Epidemic

On Friday, July 25, #TurnTheTide, a free event meant to draw awareness to the heroin epidemic affecting Long Beach, will be held at Long Beach Middle School at 6:30 p.m.  Put together by RIP LB and Families In Support of Treatment (FIST), the event will offer resources, speakers, refreshments and raffles.

“This event has been in the works since March,” said Jen Lebowitz, founder of RIP LB. “We have many powerful speakers including people in recovery, addiction experts and family members of the addicted. It is time to start a local conversation and connect people with the proper resources.”

Lebowitz started RIP LB in February by creating a Facebook page to draw public awareness to the issue. The page quickly racked up 1,500 likes and comments from others hoping to bring an end to the epidemic.

“At least once a month we were hearing about fatal overdoses, people who were my age and younger,” she said.

A dean at a local university, Lebowitz was able to connect to others who are fed up with heroin-related fatalities on the Island. She joined forces with Anthony Rizzutto of FIST, and together they lobbied for a series of bills that would address the state’s youth opiate and heroin epidemic. Thirteen bills were signed by the governor and Lebowitz is hoping Friday’s event will spread awareness further about the issue.

“Long Island has been plagued with an opiate epidemic,” said Rizzuto. “Protect your loved ones and your community. Fight back by empowering yourself with education, awareness and resources.”