In the Home

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey provides resources and information for New Jersey families to take steps to prevent substance abuse in their home.

In the Workplace

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey provides free training to small and mid-sized business to assist them in creating drug-free workplace policies.

In the Schools

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey provides opportunities for students in the third grade through high school to participate in substance abuse prevention activities and contests throughout the year.

In the Community

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey serves in a leadership role in the prevention and treatment communities of New Jersey and provides workshops and trainings to parents, caregivers, educators, and municipal alliances.

In the Media

The Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey’s substance abuse prevention public service campaign is the longest running in New Jersey history. PDFNJ’s campaigns have been featured in the White House Office of National Drug-Control Policy Strategy Report to the nation.

  • In the Home
  • In the Workplace
  • In the Schools
  • In the Community
  • In the Media

Hurricane Sandy Resources

Click here for resources to manage the emotional impact of Hurricane Sandy

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15th Annual Legal Issues of A Drug-Free Workplace Members Seminar

Register using the link below

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NJ 4th Grade Students Featured at Statewide Prevention Artwork Showcase

Over 8,000 fourth grade students from across New Jersey participated in the Fourteenth Annual Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey/Verizon New Jersey Design a Fourth Grade Folder Contest.

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Drugfree.org - One-Fourth of Teens Have Misused or Abused Prescription Drugs at Least Once: Study

One-fourth of teens have misused or abused a prescription drug at least once in their lifetime, a 33 percent increase over the last five years, a new study finds

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Drugfree.Org - Parents: Talk to Your Teens About Drinking Before They Start College

Parents who discuss drinking with their teens before they start college can influence their children’s drinking behavior once they are at school, a new study suggests.

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PDFNJ Announces "Do No Harm" Symposium

Please sign-up here to receive updates and registration information for the Fall 2013 Do No Harm Symposium (more details to follow soon)

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Study: Random Drug Testing of Middle School Students Proves Effective in Preventing Substance Abuse

ATLANTIC CITY— PDFNJ and Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind, today, released the results of their six year study of the effectiveness of drug-testing in the prevention of substance abuse among New Jersey middle school students at the statewide Addiction Conference, Atlantic City.

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Yahoo.com - Holder: Marijuana's effect on children a factor

WASHINGTON (AP) -- How it affects children will be one factor the Justice Department weighs as it determines how to respond to the legalization of marijuana in Washington state and Colorado,Attorney General Eric Holder told Congress Thursday.

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Finalists Announced for NJ Shouts Down Drugs Music Competition

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, today, released the finalist list for the 2013 New Jersey Shout Down Drugs Competition(NJSDD), its substance abuse prevention themed music and song writing competition for high school students.

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PDFNJ Seeking Scripts for Television PSA Contest

PDFNJ is calling on NJ middle school students to write, star and produce a television commercial with a substance abuse prevention message for their peers by entering the 14th Annual Middle School Public Service Announcement Challenge (MSPSA).

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Young People Across The World Vote In PDFNJ High School Drug Prevention Music Competition

MILLBURN — Ladies and Gentlemen, the votes are in! The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) announced, today, that Nicole Levine of Essex County is this year’s New Jersey Shout Down Drugs (NJSDD) “Online Voting People’s Choice Finalist.” Levine received the highest vote count of the 110,000 votes cast.

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PDFNJ Executive Director Testifies to the Importance of the Passage of A-2421,

Supporting Revisions to the Parental Consent Law for Surveying Students.

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Ex. Dir. Angelo Valente Contributes to NJ. Dept. of Education's Newsletter

Alcohol use by our children is a significant problem in our state and across the country. As a father of three and the Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug–Free New Jersey, (PDFNJ) for the past eighteen years, it is startling to realize that 46 percent of New Jersey children in the seventh and eighth grades have experimented with alcohol.

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Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Mourns the Passing of Riley Regan

MILLBURN -- The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) sadly mourns the passing of Riley Regan, the first Executive Director of the New Jersey Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA) and a lifelong, outspoken advocate for the field of substance abuse prevention and treatment.

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PDFNJ to Lead National Event to Raise Awareness of Prescription Drug Abuse in NJ

On November 10, 2012, a historic and lifesaving event --- The American Medicine Chest Challenge(AMCC) --- a public health initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse will be held in communities throughout New Jersey.

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PDFNJ Ex. Dir. Stresses Link Between Rx Abuse and Heroin Abuse at GCADA Taskforce Hearing in Camden

In 2007, PDFNJ knew, that 70% of people who were abusing Rx drugs were obtaining them from the medicine cabinets of friends and relatives. At that point PDFNJ knew this important statistic had to be shared -- and we dedicated all of our resources to disseminating this important information to all NJ residents. PDFNJ created a simple message with an image of a Grandmother – alerting residents that there may be a "stash" of potentially life threatening substances in their medicine cabinets.

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US Attorney’s Office Announces “The Right Prescription for New Jersey”

US Attorney Paul Fishman, center, launched the Right Prescription for New Jersey today along with, l-r, , Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, DEA-NJ Special Agent-in-Charge Brian Crowell, Christopher Cerf, New Jersey Commissioner of Education, and NJ State Commission of Investigation Chairman, Patrick Hobbs.

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PDFNJ Joins Medicine Abuse Project (MAP)

The Medicine Abuse Project is a unifying campaign that brings together families, communities, industry, health care professionals, educators, law enforcement and government officials to curb teen medicine abuse, and ultimately save lives. The campaign launches during the week of September 23-29, 2012

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In Memoriam, William F. Faherty

William F. Faherty 1926-2012, PDFNJ Board Trustee

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Colorado: 74% of Teens in Treatment Used Medical Marijuana

Three-quarters of teenage patients in substance abuse treatment programs in Denver, Colorado said they used someone else’s medical marijuana, according to a new study.

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The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey applauds Governor Christie for mandating treatment for non-violent drug and alcohol dependent offenders with the signing of S-881

PDFNJ applauds Gov. Christie and the NJ legislature for their keen understanding of the complex issues of substance abuse and addiction. Through this legislation, which the Gov. spearheaded, thousands of lives will be saved, and thousands of families will have hope in this second chance provided to their children.

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2012 New Jersey Broadcasters Association Conference

Steve Forbes, CEO of Forbes, Inc., is pictured with Nick Alu, winner of the 2012 New Jersey Shout Down Drugs Competition at the New Jersey Broadcasters Association Conference in Atlantic City. Also pictured from left to right, are the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s Director of Media, Angela Conover, and Executive Director, Angelo M. Valente; Nick’s mother Patricia Hutchins, and Paul Rotella, President and CEO of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association.

Angelo Valente on NJTV to Discuss Annual Survey on New Jersey Parents Attitudes

Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for A Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) is featured on NJTV's NJ Today's Nightly News to discuss the release of PDFNJ.s annual Tracking Study of Parent Attitude and Behavior in Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

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PDFNJ Recognizes Nicole Weiner of Marlton

Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey, visited the Helen L. Beeler Elementary School in Marlton, Burlington County, to recognize the participation of school parent Nicole Weiner, in PDFNJ's Fifth Grade Parent Alert initiative, supported by the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.

Nick Alu Wins the 2012 NJ Shout Down Drugs Music Competition

Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and Kimberly Smith, Regional Director, Community Investment, Comcast, are pictured with the winners of the 2012 New Jersey Shouts Down Drugs Concert. First Place Winner Nicolas Alu, Lacey Township High School, Ocean County, Second Place Winner Joanne Dumerand, Arts High School, Essex County, Third Place Winners Kishawn Jack, Hudson County Prep High School, Hudson County, and the members of The Starving Artists Avery Peterson and Kevin Karol from Rumson-Fair Haven High School, Monmouth County, are pictured left to right. Also pictured is, center, is NJSDD Master of Ceremonies, Patrick Boll, star of the Broadway Hit Mamma Mia.

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AMCC Launches First In the Nation Prescription Drug Prevention Mobile App

Washington DC -- The American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC), the nation’s largest privately funded public health campaign preventing prescription drug abuse, announced today, the release of a mobile app ‘AMCC Rx Drop’ connecting users to the locations of permanent prescription drug collection boxes for the collection of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine.

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PDFNJ Honors Dennis M. Bone at Angel of Hope Gala

Dennis M. Bone, President of Verizon New Jersey, was honored for Verizon New Jersey’s commitment to substance abuse prevention in the State by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) at its 20th Anniversary Angel of Hope Gala. Bone, center, received the Angel of Hope Award at the April 26, 2012 event. He is pictured with, left to right, Steve Pasierb, President, Partnership at DrugFree.Org; Gala Chair John A. Azzarello, PDFNJ Trustee, and partner at Arseneault, Whipple, Fassett & Azzarello, LLP; Tracy Baldwin, Manager, PhRMA; Joseph A. Miele, PDFNJ Chairman; and Angelo M. Valente, PDFNJ Executive Director.

Prescription Drug Abuse Experts Discuss Prevention

A panel with representatives from government, schools, police and nonprofits gathered at Bergen Community College Tuesday to discuss a growing health issue: prescription drug abuse. Forty Americans die each day from overdosing on prescription painkillers, said Angelo Valente, executive director of PDFNJ. One way to prevent these deaths is through education, he said. "Tonight we are doing exactly what we need to do," Valente said. "We are learning about the issue."

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NJ 4th Grade Students Featured At Statewide Prevention Artwork Premier

(NEWARK) – Over 8,000 fourth grade students from across NJ participated in the 13th Annual PDFNJ/Verizon New Jersey Design a Fourth Grade Folder Contest. The students from 4th grade classrooms across NJ were challenged to create peer-to-peer substance abuse prevention messages. The theme of the contest was “Fun Things to do Instead of Doing Drugs.”

Read More

Angelo Valente, PDFNJ Ex. Dir., Discusses the 2012 NJSDD Music Concert

The 2012 New Jersey Shout Down Drugs music concert is scheduled for May 24, 2012 at the Newark PAC. Angelo Valente sits down with Comcast Newsmakers to discuss the NJSDD competition and more.

Read More

National Online Directory of Permanent Prescription Drug Collection Boxes Launched

Washington DC -- The American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC), the nation’s largest privately funded public health campaign preventing prescription drug abuse, announced today, the creation of a national online directory of permanent prescription drug collection boxes for the collection of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine. Currently, the directory includes collection sites in 50 states, including New Jersey. New Jersey currently has permanent collection locations in Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hunterdon, Morris and Ocean counties.

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2012 PDFNJ Angel of Hope Gala Honoree Announced

PDFNJ is proud to announce that Dennis M. Bone, President of Verizon New Jersey, will be honored at the organization’s Twentieth Anniversary Gala on April 26, 2012, with the Angel of Hope Award.

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NJ Businesses with Drug Free Work Place Policies More Productive and Successful

MILLBURN— Maintaining a drug free workplace policy enables New Jersey businesses to be more productive and more successful, according to a new study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ). The survey was conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMindTM Poll of 300 New Jersey businesses, in December 2011.

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An 'Intervention' in Newark

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and A&E Television Networks, LLC, hosted a live Town Hall Meeting on prescription drug addiction. Left to Right: John L. Hulick, Acting Executive Director, Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director, PDFNJ; Diane Litterer, Executive Director, New Jersey Prevention Network; Steve Pasierb, President & CEO, The Partnership at Drugfree.org; and Honorable Lawrence Cooper, Board of Trustee Member, PDFNJ.

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PDFNJ Ex. Dir., Angelo Valente, presents Edison Leadership Award for Excellence in Public Service

PDFNJ Executive Director Angelo M. Valente presents the Thomas Edison Leadership Award for Excellence in Public Service to Paul S. Rotella, Esq., President and Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association and Robert Dunphy, Chairman of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey applauds Governor Christie for mandating treatment for non-violent drug and alcohol dependent offenders with the signing of S-881

PDFNJ applauds Gov. Christie and the NJ legislature for their keen understanding of the complex issues of substance abuse and addiction. Through this legislation, which the Gov. spearheaded, thousands of lives will be saved, and thousands of families will have hope in this second chance provided to their children.

Read More

Colorado: 74% of Teens in Treatment Used Medical Marijuana

Three-quarters of teenage patients in substance abuse treatment programs in Denver, Colorado said they used someone else’s medical marijuana, according to a new study.

Read More

2012 New Jersey Broadcasters Association Conference

Steve Forbes, CEO of Forbes, Inc., is pictured with Nick Alu, winner of the 2012 New Jersey Shout Down Drugs Competition at the New Jersey Broadcasters Association Conference in Atlantic City. Also pictured from left to right, are the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s Director of Media, Angela Conover, and Executive Director, Angelo M. Valente; Nick’s mother Patricia Hutchins, and Paul Rotella, President and CEO of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association.

Angelo Valente on NJTV to Discuss Annual Survey on New Jersey Parents Attitudes

Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for A Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) is featured on NJTV's NJ Today's Nightly News to discuss the release of PDFNJ.s annual Tracking Study of Parent Attitude and Behavior in Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Read More

PDFNJ Recognizes Nicole Weiner of Marlton

Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey, visited the Helen L. Beeler Elementary School in Marlton, Burlington County, to recognize the participation of school parent Nicole Weiner, in PDFNJ's Fifth Grade Parent Alert initiative, supported by the Horizon Foundation of New Jersey.

Nick Alu Wins the 2012 NJ Shout Down Drugs Music Competition

Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and Kimberly Smith, Regional Director, Community Investment, Comcast, are pictured with the winners of the 2012 New Jersey Shouts Down Drugs Concert. First Place Winner Nicolas Alu, Lacey Township High School, Ocean County, Second Place Winner Joanne Dumerand, Arts High School, Essex County, Third Place Winners Kishawn Jack, Hudson County Prep High School, Hudson County, and the members of The Starving Artists Avery Peterson and Kevin Karol from Rumson-Fair Haven High School, Monmouth County, are pictured left to right. Also pictured is, center, is NJSDD Master of Ceremonies, Patrick Boll, star of the Broadway Hit Mamma Mia.

Read More

AMCC Launches First In the Nation Prescription Drug Prevention Mobile App

Washington DC -- The American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC), the nation’s largest privately funded public health campaign preventing prescription drug abuse, announced today, the release of a mobile app ‘AMCC Rx Drop’ connecting users to the locations of permanent prescription drug collection boxes for the collection of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine.

Read More

PDFNJ Honors Dennis M. Bone at Angel of Hope Gala

Dennis M. Bone, President of Verizon New Jersey, was honored for Verizon New Jersey’s commitment to substance abuse prevention in the State by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) at its 20th Anniversary Angel of Hope Gala. Bone, center, received the Angel of Hope Award at the April 26, 2012 event. He is pictured with, left to right, Steve Pasierb, President, Partnership at DrugFree.Org; Gala Chair John A. Azzarello, PDFNJ Trustee, and partner at Arseneault, Whipple, Fassett & Azzarello, LLP; Tracy Baldwin, Manager, PhRMA; Joseph A. Miele, PDFNJ Chairman; and Angelo M. Valente, PDFNJ Executive Director.

Prescription Drug Abuse Experts Discuss Prevention

A panel with representatives from government, schools, police and nonprofits gathered at Bergen Community College Tuesday to discuss a growing health issue: prescription drug abuse. Forty Americans die each day from overdosing on prescription painkillers, said Angelo Valente, executive director of PDFNJ. One way to prevent these deaths is through education, he said. "Tonight we are doing exactly what we need to do," Valente said. "We are learning about the issue."

Read More

NJ 4th Grade Students Featured At Statewide Prevention Artwork Premier

(NEWARK) – Over 8,000 fourth grade students from across NJ participated in the 13th Annual PDFNJ/Verizon New Jersey Design a Fourth Grade Folder Contest. The students from 4th grade classrooms across NJ were challenged to create peer-to-peer substance abuse prevention messages. The theme of the contest was “Fun Things to do Instead of Doing Drugs.”

Read More

Angelo Valente, PDFNJ Ex. Dir., Discusses the 2012 NJSDD Music Concert

The 2012 New Jersey Shout Down Drugs music concert is scheduled for May 24, 2012 at the Newark PAC. Angelo Valente sits down with Comcast Newsmakers to discuss the NJSDD competition and more.

Read More

National Online Directory of Permanent Prescription Drug Collection Boxes Launched

Washington DC -- The American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC), the nation’s largest privately funded public health campaign preventing prescription drug abuse, announced today, the creation of a national online directory of permanent prescription drug collection boxes for the collection of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine. Currently, the directory includes collection sites in 50 states, including New Jersey. New Jersey currently has permanent collection locations in Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hunterdon, Morris and Ocean counties.

Read More

2012 PDFNJ Angel of Hope Gala Honoree Announced

PDFNJ is proud to announce that Dennis M. Bone, President of Verizon New Jersey, will be honored at the organization’s Twentieth Anniversary Gala on April 26, 2012, with the Angel of Hope Award.

Read More

NJ Businesses with Drug Free Work Place Policies More Productive and Successful

MILLBURN— Maintaining a drug free workplace policy enables New Jersey businesses to be more productive and more successful, according to a new study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ). The survey was conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMindTM Poll of 300 New Jersey businesses, in December 2011.

Read More

An 'Intervention' in Newark

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and A&E Television Networks, LLC, hosted a live Town Hall Meeting on prescription drug addiction. Left to Right: John L. Hulick, Acting Executive Director, Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director, PDFNJ; Diane Litterer, Executive Director, New Jersey Prevention Network; Steve Pasierb, President & CEO, The Partnership at Drugfree.org; and Honorable Lawrence Cooper, Board of Trustee Member, PDFNJ.

Read More

PDFNJ Ex. Dir., Angelo Valente, presents Edison Leadership Award for Excellence in Public Service

PDFNJ Executive Director Angelo M. Valente presents the Thomas Edison Leadership Award for Excellence in Public Service to Paul S. Rotella, Esq., President and Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association and Robert Dunphy, Chairman of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association.