As we head into Memorial Day, I want to wish you all a safe and healthy weekend. I hope that everyone will have the opportunity to get some fresh air, of course while practicing safe social distancing.  The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) continues to provide virtual programming and communicate important substance use prevention messages and educate our children to lead healthy and drug-free lifestyles.

Some events that I want to highlight are the upcoming free Drug’s Don’t Work in NJ statewide webinar on June 2^nd at 1 p.m. Nancy N. Delogu, Esq. of Littler, Washington, D.C, a nationally recognized authority on federal and state drug-free workplace and drug-testing issues, is to be the featured speaker. Her presentation will focus on legal and legislative developments related to a drug-free workplace, including the potential impact should New Jersey legalize the recreational use of marijuana in a statewide referendum set to occur this November. This webinar will be a great resource for New Jersey business owners.  To register, please click here.

Additionally, we are continuing with the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall webinar series with our sponsors, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, (HBCBSNJ). The next webinar will take place on May 28^th at 11 a.m.  Featured speakers, Chris Barton, LCSW, Director of Integrated Systems of Care and Network Innovation for Horizon, and David Buch, MD, part of the behavioral health team for Horizon will address behavioral health and addiction.  To register for this Town Hall webinar, please click here.

I also wanted to mention, if are looking for additional resources for your organization, our past three Town Hall webinars are available online for you to share with those you think may need this valuable information. The past webinar topics include: Supporting Those in Recovery from Opioid Addiction During COVID-19, COVID-19 Pandemic: Responding to the Opioid Addiction Epidemic, and COVID-19 Pandemic & the Trauma Impacting Our Children.

Another important resource is PDFNJ’s  15 Minute Child Break program. It is available either as an interactive 30-minute Zoom webinar or a prerecorded presentation. It informs, encourages and empowers parents, grandparents and educators about how to communicate effectively with children about drugs and alcohol abuse and misuse.

As always, we are here to help, so please visit our website for additional resources and information. 

I hope everyone has a good Memorial Day weekend.  Special thoughts go out to the men and women who lost their lives defending all of us thought-out our countries history during this holiday and continued wishes to stay safe and well.