Since my accident I have had many offers for help and it is very much appreciated. So far everything is going better than I expected and there is very little pain. I had surgery last Friday and now I just need time to finish healing.

Some of you may know that I am studying heating ventilation and air conditioning at Suffolk County Community College. Karen has been a big help with school. My writing hand is broken and she is coming to class with me and taking my notes.

One of the classes I'm taking is technical writing. There is one project left to complete and it is one that requires working with three other students. We are writing a technical report on the rise in heroin use by adolescents and teens here on long island. Each student is responsible for 750 words. Since I only have the use of one hand my group is letting me do interviews and they are writing my part.

We picked this subject because we believe there is a large amount of information available. As I began searching and calling for information, I was directed to a report that had been published by the Suffolk Heroin and Opiate Epidemic Advisory Panel. This paper includes forty-eight recommendations. After spending the day reading this I saw the groups that could implement the recommendations. Most where aimed at the county but others would be handled by medical providers, our schools, and our townships.

So now that I have read the recommendations of this panel I have two questions:

1) Is this report getting out to the people that can use it? The paper was published in December of 2010.

2) If the report is being reviewed by your group, whether you work for the county, a township, school, or a medical provider, what are your thoughts on it and are you putting any of the recommendations into action.

The help I could use right now is to be able to talk to people that are involved, through these organizations and professions. I would really like to hear from those in the pharmacy and pain management field. This could be accomplished face-to-face, over the phone, or through email. Whatever is easiest for you.

If anyone would like to read this report I can email you a pdf of it. Just email me at

Looking forward to getting back to the roads and trails with you all as soon as I can! Thank you for your support.