Blog
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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.
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Invitation to PDFNJ's Annual Drug-Free Workplace Webinar
We know that those who work in the health field, education and law enforcement all have an important role to play in our efforts to address substance use and misuse in our communities. One important but often overlooked ally in our efforts at prevention are employers. Employers can provide education and assistance not only to their employees but to their families as well.
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Teen Substance Use is Down—Here’s What We Know
There’s encouraging news about teen substance use in the U.S. A new study from Monitoring the Future reveals that record numbers of teens are steering clear of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Among 12th graders, 66 percent reported no use of these substances in the past 30 days, while 80 percent of 10th graders and 90 percent of 8th graders said the same.
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Research Study by Rutgers Shows Overall Benefits of Prescribing Non-Opioids After Dental Surgery
A recent study by the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine clearly shows patients are better off not being prescribed an opioid after dental procedures. The study not only demonstrates that pain management is better for patients without opioids, it also showed they sleep better and are better able to engage in regular daily activities while recovering from surgery.