Blog
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National Fentanyl Awareness Day 2025: Turning Awareness into Action
April 29 marks the fourth annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day, a nationwide effort to protect young lives from the deadly threat of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills. This day brings together schools, families, nonprofits, corporations, and government agencies to spotlight the hidden dangers of illicit fentanyl use.
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National Take Back Day: A Simple Step Toward Safer Homes and Healthier Communities
As National Take Back Day approaches on Saturday, April 26, we’re reminded of the role each of us can play in protecting our families from the dangers of opioid misuse. The opioid crisis continues to devastate communities across the country. In 2024, there were 1,803 suspected overdose deaths in New Jersey alone, according to NJ CARES.
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Alcohol Awareness Month: Prevention Starts with a Conversation
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the importance of healthy choices, open communication, and proactive prevention, especially when it comes to youth.
There’s encouraging news to share: According to the latest Monitoring the Future survey, funded by the National Institutes of Health, substance use among adolescents continues to remain at historically low levels. In 2024, reported use of most substances—including alcohol—held steady or declined among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders.
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Prevention Efforts to Address Illegal Sales of Flavored E-Cigarettes
Today’s guest blog is written by Dave Bratton, Youth Substance Use Prevention Coordinator for the Secaucus Coalition, who writes about the coalition’s effort to hold businesses accountable for selling flavored e-cigarettes and vaping products, which is illegal in New Jersey. Another effort to take on this issue comes from the New York Attorney General’s Office, which has filed a lawsuit against distributors for being in violation of their state law.
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Survey of Businesses about the Opioid Crisis
Today’s guest blog, written by Dr. Lisa Lieberman, Chair and Professor, Department of , Public Health, Montclair State University, provides a summary of the results of a survey of businesses in Montclair on the opioid crisis. I encourage business leaders of Montclair, Essex County and other employers to register for the FREE Breakfast Workshop and Training Session to be held Wednesday, March 26th that will explore how the business community can address the opioid crisis.
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Encourage Creativity & Prevention: Middle School PSA Challenge
Parents and teachers - are you looking for a meaningful way to engage middle school students in a creative and educational project? PDFNJ invites 5th through 8th graders across the state to participate in the 2024-2025 Middle School PSA Challenge.
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More Research on the Harmful Effects of Marijuana Use
In a previous blog I noted how use of marijuana by teenagers can lead to mental health issues, such as the onset of psychosis. Today I focus on another health issue related to the use of marijuana, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). In this article, “Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Rising Complication,” published in the online medical journal, Cureus, the authors define CHS as a medical condition which occurs due to long-term marijuana use and results in abdominal pain, nausea and uncontrollable vomiting.
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Strategies for Healthcare Professionals on the Opioid Crisis
I want to share with you this insightful article concerning the opioid crisis, “The Role of Healthcare Professionals in Opioid Addiction Prevention,” written by Holly Geyer, M.D., an addiction medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and author of Ending the Crisis: May Clinic’s Guide to Opioid Addiction and Safe Opioid Use. The article provides important information regarding where we are with the opioid crisis, risk factors that contribute to an individual developing an opioid use disorder or possibly experiencing an opioid overdose.
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One Month Left for High School Musicians to Shine in "Your Song! Your Voice!" Competition
Calling all high school musicians in New Jersey—there’s just one month left to enter the Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs competition!
If you (or a student you know) love writing music and want to use your talent to spread a positive message, this is your chance. The challenge? Create an original song about substance use prevention and healthy choices. Whether you’re into rock, hip-hop, jazz, or R&B, all genres are welcome!
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FDA Grants Approval for Non-Opioid Alternative for Pain Management
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced its approval for Journavx, a non-opioid alternative “to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults.” Developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, the drug will be administered in 50 milligram oral tablets and works by targeting pathways in the nervous system addressing pain signals before they reach the brain.