Blog
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The Great American Smokeout – Thursday, November 21
I am using this blog to encourage individuals and organizations to participate in an important health initiative, The Great American Smokeout, which takes place tomorrow, November 21. While tremendous progress has been made to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine over the past few decades, it is clear more work needs to be done.
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A Spotlight on NJ's Harm Reduction Approach
This NJ Spotlight News story, “Recovery Services for People Not Ready or Able to Stop Using Drugs,” serves as a good example of the harm reduction approach being taken all over the state. The story starts with a woman, who was a victim of abuse, visiting a mobile van operated by Integrity House on the streets of Newark, and then goes on to explain how this new approach is serving those who may have a substance use disorder.
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Veterans Day
I want to take a moment to acknowledge the service to our country by our veterans and extend them a special thank you on Saturday, November 11, when the nation observes Veterans Day. We take this time to honor our veterans for their devotion, their willingness to serve and for the sacrifices they made for our country. This tradition is well over a hundred years old.
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Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Mental Health to Prevent Opioid Misuse
As Mental Health Awareness Month concludes, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges faced by veterans and others coping with PTSD from traumatic experiences. In a recent episode of the “Ones Ready” podcast, hosted by a team of U.S. Air Force Special Warfare operators, Dr. Tim Vermillion, a behavioral health expert with the Veterans Affairs Administration, offered valuable insights on managing mental health and building resilience in the face of stress and trauma. He emphasized how untreated mental health issues can severely affect quality of life.
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Free Opioid Abuse Toolkit: A Comprehensive Resource for NJ Communities
I had the honor of participating in the 72nd Annual Roy A. Bowers Conference, which took place yesterday, October 22, at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset, NJ. I took part in a panel discussion titled "Opioid Epidemic and Impact in New Jersey - Partnerships and Innovations to Address Opioid Crisis," where we examined how partnerships and innovative approaches are reshaping efforts to combat opioid use in New Jersey and beyond.
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Social Media Changes Needed to Prevent Adolescent Opioid Overdoses
I am devoting this blog to the ongoing effort needed to prevent the use and misuse of opioids and other drugs by our kids, who all too often are getting access to them via social media, and more specifically, Snapchat. This insightful article, “Inside Snapchat’s Teen Opioid Crisis,” details heartbreaking stories of parents losing children to overdoses, as well as their courageous efforts to demand that Snapchat be held accountable.
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Ted Talk on How Isolation Fuels Opioid Addiction
I encourage you to take about 15 minutes to watch this TED Talk given by Rachel Wurzman, a neuroscientist who joined the Dana Foundation, titled, “How Isolation Fuels Opioid Addiction.”
As humans, we all have a fundamental need to be connected to others. Unfortunately, many individuals will turn to opioids when this need is not met. Wurzman, using her expertise in neuroscience, explains how isolation can be a factor in the development of an opioid use disorder, as well as how it can contribute to the ongoing use of opioids or a reoccurrence of use for those in recovery.
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Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Director to Keynote Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Webinar
Tomorrow, Thursday October 3rd at 11 a.m., the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey will welcome Dr. Christopher Jones, Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to be the featured speaker of a webinar commemorating Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day. For more than a decade, Jones has been on the front lines of the nation’s fight against the opioid epidemic in leadership positions with various agencies, including the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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GUEST BLOG: Promoting Recovery in Our Workplaces as Part of National Recovery Month
As part of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s advocacy for National Recovery Month, I offer my congratulations to all individuals who are celebrating their recovery at this time. An important component of the PDFNJ mission is doing all that we can to prevent a reoccurrence of substance use for those in recovery. They are most deserving of our full support.
So, I am happy to have David Martinak contribute to the blog this week. David is the founder of Noble Advocacy, a dedicated champion of recovery and a pivotal force behind the creation of Recovery Friendly New Jersey. David is an advocate and subject matter expert in this field, drawing upon his extensive business background, personal experiences, and active engagement with Recovery-Friendly and Recovery-Ready initiatives across the nation.
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NJ Rallies for Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day: Communities Unite on October 6
Once again, New Jersey is coming together to tackle the serious problem of opioid use. The ninth annual Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day is set for Sunday, October 6, and it aims to teach people about the risks of prescription opioids, their link to heroin and fentanyl and effective strategies for preventing their misuse.