It’s been quite a summer in our great state of New Jersey and we at the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey certainly hope that you and your families are taking full advantage of the beautiful weather. But while you are taking in the sun, be sure to also take notice of what is going on with your children. School may be out, but substance abuse never takes a vacation.
At a recent concert at PNC Bank Arts Center, 20 kids were hospitalized due to alcohol or drug related ailments according to a recent NJ.com article. But that is merely the tip of the iceberg, as Matawan Police Chief Jason Gallo stated: “Several hundred of these kids appeared to be under the influence of liquor and/or drugs”.
As the article points out, many concert goers take mass transportation to PNC and NJTransit very explicitly does not allow alcoholic beverages on trains and buses. So then where are teens getting access to drugs and alcohol? In many situations, it is the home. PDFNJ has focused our efforts for many years on safeguarding the home from substance abuse, whether it be the medicine cabinet or the liquor cabinet. Parents need to be aware of this behavior so they can lock away potentially harmful substances.
Unsafe behavior like this is putting our kids at risk and it is our responsibility as parents to keep them safe by closing off access to these harmful substances. The summer is a great time for family fun and spending time together, but it can also be a great opportunity for parents to talk to their kids about substance abuse. The few minutes you spend to have this simple conversation can save them from a lifetime of addiction.