NJ Senators Sweeney & Vitale Join With PDFNJ In Work Against Drug Abuse

3/12/2015


Angelo Valente, Executive Director (far left) and Elaine Pozycki, Co-Chair
of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, accept a resolution
declaring March 2015 as "Drug Free Awareness Month" from Senate President
Steve Sweeney (l) and Senator Joseph Vitale (r).

 

SWEENEY & VITALE JOIN WITH PARTNERSHIP FOR A DRUG FREE

NEW JERSEY IN WORK AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

Senate Resolution Recognizes March 2015 as Drug Free Awareness Month


TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Joseph Vitale today presented the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, a statewide alliance working to dissuade people, especially youth, from drugs, with a resolution declaring March 2015 as "Drug Free Awareness Month." The presentation of the Senate resolution, sponsored by Sweeney and Vitale, took place at the organization's headquarters in Millburn, New Jersey.

"We have lost too many people, many of them young adults, to opiate and prescription drug addiction in New Jersey, and we must take urgent action to reverse the number of these drug-related deaths in our state," said Senate President Sweeney, D-Gloucester. "It is through the dedication and tireless efforts of organizations such as the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey that our communities have a fighting chance to win this battle."

Senator Sweeney praised the leadership of Senator Vitale on the issue.

Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, along with bipartisan legislators from both the Senate and General Assembly, has led a concerted effort and introduced a comprehensive bill package to tackle the heroin and prescription drug epidemic that is occurring across the state. The package of 21 bills focuses on the need to improve paths to evidence-based prevention, treatment, education and recovery efforts for those addicted to opiates.

"The loss of life to heroin and prescription drugs has reached epidemic proportions here in New Jersey and it is time that we take a comprehensive look at ways we can reduce the occurrences of overdoses," said Senator Vitale. "The war-on-drugs approach has not worked. We should not punish those who are suffering from addiction. Instead, we need to improve access to education and treatment. By reviewing ways to educate parents and families on the risks of becoming addicted and ensuring those who need help can gain access to it, we can reverse the rapid trend of increasing opiate addiction and overdose deaths across the state. I thank the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey for their steadfast commitment to this cause, and for their determination to prevent more children from succumbing to the disease of addiction."

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey was founded in 1992 as a state anti-drug alliance to localize, strengthen and deepen drug-prevention efforts. Strong support of New Jersey's, government and community leaders and countless volunteers have made the organization one of the top alliances in the nation. Their messages go beyond traditional media, and can be found on PATH and New Jersey Transit trains and buses, on vehicle registration renewal notifications, and on milk cartons and shopping bags.

"We are honored to have the support of our state's senators and commend their collective efforts towards the realization of our shared vision of a drug-free New Jersey," said Elaine Pozycki, Co-Chair of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. "Declaring March as Drug Free Awareness Month demonstrates a true commitment to strengthen our state's families with the knowledge they need to combat drugs."