THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 28, 2024 Page 11 ~ Guest Commentary ~ Drug Education and Prevention Programs Save Lives in Local Communities By Judy Boulay I t seems as if every community, big or small, has been impacted by the problems associated with substance use and drug overdose. Within these communities, these problems extend into the family unit, with people becoming addicted and dying because of drugs. However, community drug education and prevention programs can be a fi rst line of defense. There is hope for the younger generations as they have more access to prevention and education resources to help them make informed decisions. In addition, more information is available for parents [https://www.addicted. org/supe/teens/teens-and-alcohol/] to equip them with the tools to help their kids understand the dangers and risks associated with drugs and alcohol. Drug education and prevention campaigns operate across Massachusetts through government programs, community coalitions, and other entities. The state’s Department of Public Health has the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, which offers free evidence-based substance use prevention training for schools. Additionally, there is iDECIDE, an organization that developed a drug education curriculum for state middle and high school students. Anyone can become a facilitator. The Center for Strategic Prevention Support off ers resources to Massachusetts communities seeking to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug abuse. Finally, Project Here provides free resources to educators across the state to teach prevention to middle school students. Prevention and education information is valuable as it contributes, for example, to preventing underage alcohol abuse and recreational drug use. This can be especially vital during Fourth of July celebrations. Binge drinking, for instance, around Independence Day is typical, and it is known as one of the heaviest drinking holidays of the year. In social settings, it becomes easy to consume too much alcohol. According to drug abuse statistics, Massachusetts has one of the nation’s lowest rates of underage-related drinking deaths. Roughly 21% of adults over 18 in the state binge drink at least once per month. Annually, there is an average of 2,760 deaths in the state attributable to excessive alcohol use. Parents play an essential role when providing drug education. They can take the initiative to create an inclusive and supportive environment with their children. This can equip them with the tools they need to make knowledgeable decisions surrounding alcohol and drug use. Teens and adults all use drugs and alcohol for diff erent reasons. Much of their use is linked to peer pressure, whether from peers, in a social setting, or in the case of someone they look up to who they see drinking or using drugs. Stress is also a common factor, and alcohol or drugs seem like an easy escape from the problems of life. Additionally, environment and family history are contributing factors. Children, for example, who grow up in households with heavy drinking and recreational drug use are more likely to experiment with drugs. Any parents wondering what to do should consider starting the conversation about alcohol and drug use early. It is also essential to be calm, loving, and supportive. Seek out specialized resources, such as those off ered by county or nonprofit organizations providing prevention and education. Additionally, parents want to focus on making it safe for their children to tell them anything and never end the conody Boulay is a mother of two with a passion for helping others. She currently works as a Community Outreach Coordinator for DRS, which stands for Drug Rehab Services, to help spread awareness of the dangers of drugs and alcohol. (Courtesy photo) versation, keeping it going regardless of age. Local drug education resources are here to help assist people of all ages in making knowledgeable decisions about drugs and alcohol. BBB Scam Alert: “Free solar panels” can cost you big time! How to spot a phony offer and fi nd a trustworthy business I f you want solar panels, be very careful when evaluating installation off ers. Con artists use misleading sales tactics and lies to trick homeowners out of money and personal information. If you’ve received an off er for “free solar panels,” it could be a scam. Always look for businesses you can trust – like Accredited Businesses using the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Seal. How the scam works: Someone contacts you through email, phone, social media or even in person pretending to be a solar company salesperson. The “repWONG | FROM PAGE 5 had previously passed the House and Senate. Representative Alyson Sullivan-Almeida (R-Abington), who is herself a survivor of domestic abuse and an advocate for raising awareness of the problem and assisting other survivors, served on the Conference Committee and helped negotiate the fi nal language. Representative Wong noted that under the compromise bill, several measures will be implemented to prevent the sharing of explicit visual material without the consent of resentative” has a special off er: They can install solar panels on your home for a very low cost – or even free. This amazing deal is only available for a limited time, so you must act now! From here, the scam can take several turns. In some versions, the scammer is after your personal information. They ask you to fi ll out forms with your banking details “to see if you qualify.” Other times, the “solar representative” claims you need to pay upfront costs, which they promise will be reimbursed by a (nonexistent) government program. In other instances, the scammer the individual being photographed or recorded. In addition to making “revenge porn” punishable by up to 2 ½ years in prison or a $10,000 fi ne, the bill increases the fi ne for criminal harassment from $1,000 to $5,000. Additionally, House Bill 4744 prevents the use of computer-generated artifi cial intelligence (AI) for the creation of deepfake revenge porn. House Bill 4744 also amends the defi nition of “abuse” to include coercive control, which is defi ned as regulating and controlling communication, movements, daily behavior, might begin the installation of the solar panels on your home but then never return to fi nish the job; or they might install the panels but do a poor job, resulting in panels that don’t work. If you reach out to the scammer to fi nish the job or fi x the panels, they will become unreachable and disappear with your money. BBB Scam Tracker has seen numerous reports of this kind of scam. One homeowner was approached by a door-to-door salesperson “claiming he could get me a new roof plus solar equipment, with a government rebate for 26% off cost, essenand fi nances. This abuse often involves the isolation of victims from family or support systems, as well as threats, intimidation, and various forms of emotional abuse. Expanding this defi nition will allow victims of abuse to qualify for an abuse prevention order. In addition, House Bill 4744 provides for an educational diversion program for minors who engage in sexting, which would be developed by the Attorney General’s offi ce and would allow district attorneys, law enforcement, and clerk magistrates to retially paying for the new roof.” After doing their research, the homeowner found that while a government rebate program existed, the salesperson misrepresented it to make a sale. In another case, a homeowner shared, “[Company name redacted] is a solar company promising one free year and other incentives upon signing but they never followed through on anything in their contract. After the instillation of solar, they stopped answering their phones and went silent on customers. We fi nanced a 70k solar project for our house and fer a child, when appropriate, to the program. According to Representative Wong, the purpose of this diversion program is to provide an alternative punishment for minors who could otherwise be charged with felony possession of child pornography and give them a better understanding of the consequences of their actions. The bill also encourages school districts to incorporate aspects of this program into their curriculum as a learning tool for students and requires an annual review of the program and curriculum by the Offi ce of the Child Advocate. are still waiting on them to fi nish instillation a year later. They promised to provide a lifetime upkeep and maintenance on the panels but are not doing so. They took the money and ran.” How to avoid solar panel scams: • Do your research. Genuine incentive programs and reputable solar energy contractors do exist. Before you accept an unsolicited off er, do some research on solar companies in your area. Investigate each company’s reputation and business SCAM | SEE PAGE 18 Massachusetts is currently one of only two states that do not have specific laws against revenge porn, the other being South Carolina. Representative Wong noted that former Governor Charlie Baker filed legislation to close this loophole and protect victims in 2017, 2019 and again in 2021, but none of those bills reached his desk, despite the House approving a bill in 2022 that died in the Senate. Governor Healey has until June 23 to sign the bill into law.
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