Overview
The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) was created in 1992 as a substance abuse prevention alliance to localize, strengthen and deepen initiatives, drug-free assistance and parent education conferences throughout the state. All PDFNJ programs are available free of charge to the residents of New Jersey.
PDFNJ is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation best known for its statewide substance use prevention public service campaigns, which New Jersey residents can see on trains, buses, billboards, radio, television, in print and online. Through its coalition of professionals from the prevention, communications, corporate and government communities, the Partnership’s mission is to reduce substance use and misuse in New Jersey. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered more than 200 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations and has received nearly $200 million in pro bono services for the use of public service announcements, making it the largest continuous pro bono media campaign in the history of New Jersey.
Beyond its media campaigns, PDFNJ continues to make an impact through its educational programs. PDFNJ parent education programs including the 15-Minute Child Break and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey’s 5th Grade Parent Alert have equipped hundreds of thousands of New Jersey Families with crucial information on how to prevent substance use in their homes. With the support from many partners, the Partnership also sponsors school-based programs including the 3rd Grade Contract for a Healthy Life, 4th Grade Folder Contest, Middle School PSA Challenge and New Jersey Shout Down Drugs, that encourage students to create and spread original substance use prevention messages. PDFNJ’s education initiatives reach beyond students and parents. Drugs Don’t Work in NJ! provides New Jersey employers and businesses with resources and information on creating and maintaining a drug-free workplace.
Over the past decade, PDFNJ has been an active force in the fight against the opioid epidemic gripping the state and nation. In 2009, the Partnership expanded nationwide with the American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC). AMCC was created to help the nation’s families see their medicine cabinets as an access point for potential misuse of over-the-counter and prescription opioids. The program provides an opportunity to properly dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medicine at hundreds of disposal locations across the country.
PDFNJ expanded its efforts to prevent opioid misuse in 2013 by launching the Do No Harm Symposium Series in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Jersey Division. The series aims to educate doctors, dentists and other prescribers on the opioid crisis and safer prescribing practices. This program has successfully educated more than 2,000 physicians, dentists and other prescribers, with 95 percent of attendees indicating they would implement safer prescribing practices as a result of attending a symposium. The Do No Harm program was recognized by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in 2015.
In a continued effort to educate both families and prescribers, PDFNJ launched Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day on October 6, 2016. This awareness mobilization effort featured a dual focus: educating physicians and raising awareness among New Jersey citizens and families. More than 2,000 volunteers across the state participated to bring attention of the opioid abuse epidemic facing New Jersey and the steps that can be taken to stem the epidemic. In 2017, more than 6,000 volunteers participated in Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day.
PDFNJ launched the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall Series in 2017, in collaboration with The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. The series focuses on the link between prescription opioid dependency and heroin use and examines the causes and possible solutions of the opioid crisis from several perspectives, including law enforcement, the medical community, prevention, recovery and government. Beyond simply educating attendees on the various components of the opioid issue, the series aims to encourage dialogue between residents, community leaders and experts in fields related to substance use as a means of exploring and finding solutions to the epidemic.
PDFNJ is committed to educating the public about substance use prevention and the disease of addiction so that New Jersey residents can live healthy lives, free of the dangers of drugs. Your support of this mission is deeply appreciated.