The Drug in Our Pocket: Screens, Youth & Mental Health

Join NYPL for an evening screening of clips from the documentary The Drug in Our Pocket (2026) followed by an expert panel conversation. Learn more about how digital technology is shaping youth mental health and what families and schools can do together to reclaim their attention, agency, and time! Smartphones and social media are part of nearly every moment of young people’s lives—both at home and at school. Parents see it at the dinner table and at bedtime; teachers see the results manifesting in the classroom, in students’ attention, in friendships, and in their perception of themselves. Panelists will explore what the research tells us, what parents and educators are seeing in children, and what practical strategies can help kids build healthier relationships with technology. Audience Q&A to follow. PANELISTS • Dr. Aliza Pressman, Developmental Psychologist, New York Times Bestselling Author, and Host of the Raising Good Humans Podcast • Tali Horowitz, East Coast Education Director at Common Sense Media • Melissa Bernstein, Co-founder of Melissa & Doug Toys and Co-founder of Lifelines • Annie Sunberg, Director of The Drug in Our Pocket (2026) MODERATOR • Beth Kojima, Producer of The Drug in Our Pocket (2026) Free and open to all, especially educators and parents. Complimentary light bites and beverages will be provided. Eligible NYS educators will receive 2 CTLE credits for their participation. To receive CTLE credit, participants must attend the full program and complete the required evaluation. Presented by The New York Public Library’s Center for Educators and Schools. For more information about NYPL’s Center for Educators and Schools, visit us online and subscribe to our monthly newsletter—plus, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or X! For questions, contact us at [email protected] PUBLIC NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING | Programs are photographed and recorded by the New York Public Library. Attending this event indicates your consent to being filmed/photographed and your consent to the use of your recorded image for any all purposes of the New York Public Library. PRESS | Please send all press inquiries (photo, video, interviews, audio-recording, etc) at least 24-hours before the day of the program to [email protected]. Please note that professional video recordings are prohibited without expressed consent. ACCESSIBILITY | This event will be captioned. You may request ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing [email protected] at least two weeks in advance of the event. This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.