Blog
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We Must Raise Awareness About the Dangers of Fentanyl
According to the CDC, ingesting just 0.002 grams of fentanyl results in certain death. In 2021, 3,124 people in New Jersey died from a drug overdose with the majority involving some form of an opioid, such as fentanyl. Overdose deaths linked to fentanyl were the leading cause of drug-related deaths in New Jersey for 2018 and 2019. The state has not yet released the data on 2020 and 2021, but the results are expected to be similar.
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April is Alcohol Awareness Month
A new study has found that alcohol-related deaths in the United States climbed nearly 26 percent in 2020, which is the largest year-over-year increase in decades. The researchers found that the largest increase, about 38 percent, occurred among people ages 25 to 44.
Sadly, we are just now understanding what effects the pandemic has had on substance use disorder. April is National Alcohol Awareness month, and it is important that we speak to today’s young people and raise awareness about the dangers of underage alcohol consumption and excessive consumption among adults.
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The Opioid Epidemic’s Impact on Race
A recent article on nj.com detailed that in New Jersey, Black residents accounted for 25 percent of the overdose deaths last year through October, a significant increase from 12 percent in 2015. Through March 13 of this year, the Black population accounts for 28 percent of suspected overdose-related deaths.
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Important Legislation to Curtail Teenage Vaping
A key health care provision was recently passed that would finally give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate synthetic nicotine. I applaud the passage of this provision and the efforts of New Jersey Representative Frank Pallone, who has championed to clarify the FDA’s authority to regulate these products.
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PDFNJ Reaching Student Athletes Through New Initiative
I wanted to share some news about Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s (PDFNJ) latest Knock Out Opioid Abuse initiative focusing on educating student athletes of the dangers of prescription opioids. Sadly, student athletes have an elevated risk of opioid use as sports injuries send more than 2.6 million children to the emergency room every year.
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The Disease of Addiction Affects the Whole Family
Over 3,000 people died of a drug overdose in New Jersey in 2021, and vast majority involved some form of an opioid. That is not only 3,000 deaths to many, but 3,000 families who have been affected by the opioid crisis that continues to ravage our state and the nation.
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Raising Awareness About the Dangers of Marijuana Use Among Teens
New Jersey’s legalization of the recreational use of marijuana could affect how today’s youth perceive the substance. It is important that we ensure youth and their families understand the dangers that are associated with marijuana use among adolescents.
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We Must Raise Awareness About the Dangers of Opioids
New Jersey has made great strides against the opioid epidemic, but there are still far too many residents affected by this crisis. The goal of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) is to prevent opioid substance use disorder before it starts to destroy lives. That's why it's more important than ever that we raise awareness of the dangers of prescription opioids and their link to heroin and fentanyl.
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Controversial Opioid Pulled from the Market
In 2013, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved hydrocodone-based prescription opioid, Zohydro ER, despite the medication not having abuse-deterrent properties and an 11-2 advisory committee vote against approval. At the time, the FDA came under fire for the approval and went to great lengths to defend the prescription opioid, which is something the agency does not often do.
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Communication is Key Component of Substance Use Prevention
One of the cornerstones of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is encouraging communication among families. Our research has shown that parents who talk to their children for at least 15 minutes a day have children who are 67 percent less likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol.
The most effective way to prevent substance use disorder is to address issues before they arise. It is through that communication that parents and caregivers can create an open dialogue about substance use prevention.