Last week, for the 10th year in a row, we gathered together some of the best young, musical talent in the state of New Jersey for a night of powerful prevention messages. When I think about some of the great songs that have been shared through our Shout Down Drugs competition, it's encouraging to know that there are concerned young people out there willing to use their talents to make a difference.
But then I read reports like this one from TreatmentHelp and I’m saddened, yet determined to press forward. New Jersey is ranked number three in the nation for heroin addiction problems, with Newark, Camden, Toms River, and Trenton as the epicenters. The study mentions how New Jersey is home to some of the purest heroin in the country, a fact that we at the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey are only too familiar with.
Now with the Memorial Day holiday passing us by as the unofficial opening of the summer season, we need to be more vigilant than ever. Children will be out of school soon and parent need to find a way to keep those lines of communication open through these months.
It’s clear that while we have made tremendous progress in our state, there is much work to be done. Thankfully, at the Shout Down Drugs concert, I was reminded once again that the future of our state remains bright. We will continue to raise awareness of this frightening and deadly epidemic, but we are grateful that we are not alone.
You can check out all of our finalists from last week's competition by visiting our website at http://www.shoutdowndrugs.com/