In the News
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nj1015.com: Drug overdoses now kill twice as many NJ residents as car crashes
Posted 2/8/2016
As Jersey’s ongoing heroin and prescription drug epidemic continues, drug overdoses have become the leading cause of accidental death in the Garden state. The state Medical Examiner’s Office reports in 2014 there were 1,305 drug-related deaths, and New Jersey State Police data indicates there were 556 fatalities on Garden state roads.
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njtvonline.org: PDFNJ Ex. Dir Angelo M. Valente Testifies Before NJ Senate Committee About NJ’s Opioid Abuse Epidemic
Posted 2/4/2016
The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey says it holds meetings for doctors called Do No Harm. “What’s amazing is 90 percent of the physicians who attended these symposiums — doctors and dentists — 90 percent of them said they plan to change their prescribing habits,” said Executive Director Angelo Valente.
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drugabuse.gov: Factors Predicting the Transition from Prescription Opioids to Heroin
Posted 2/3/2016
Prescription opioid misuse remains one of America’s biggest drug problems. In recent years the numbers of people misusing prescription pain relievers has leveled off, however, the number of people dying from overdoses continues to rise, and a new epidemic of heroin use has emerged as many people misusing prescription opioids transition to their cheaper, often easier-to-obtain street relative.
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nj.com: Inside the N.J. town with a heroin death-rate 25 times the national average
Posted 1/28/2016
Between 2004 and 2014, at least 53 people died of heroin or opiate overdoses in Williamstown, an unincorporated community located almost entirely in Monroe Township, Gloucester County.
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DrugFree.org: Taylor Submits Testimony to End the Heroin and Prescription Drug Epidemic
Posted 1/28/2016
This week, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids President and CEO, Marcia Lee Taylor, submitted testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee for Wednesday’s hearing urging for ways to address the heroin and prescription drug epidemic. The hearing brought together governors, U.S. Senators and law enforcement officials and called for more funding and stronger measures to fight opioid addiction.
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Lauren and Carol Verrasto, of Park Middle School, Awarded iPad for Participation in PDFNJ/Horizon Foundation for NJ 5th Grade Parent Alert Program
Posted 1/28/2016
Over 30,000 5th Grade Students participated in this program throughout the state. This initiative is designed to provide information on substance abuse trends and tips to prevent substance abuse to New Jersey parents of 5th grade students.
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NY Times: Drug Deaths Reach White America
Posted 1/25/2016
Congress has historically treated drug abuse as a malady afflicting mostly poor, minority communities, best dealt with by locking people up for long periods of time. The epidemic of drug overdose deaths currently ravaging white populations in cities and towns across the country has altered this line of thinking, and forced lawmakers to acknowledge that addiction is a problem that knows no racial barriers and can be best addressed with treatment.
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northjersey.com: Shout Down Drugs holds music competition for state high school kids
Posted 1/21/2016
The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey's Shout Down Drugs music competition deadline is Feb. 1.
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shorenewstoday.com: Police department gets new medicine drop box
Posted 1/19/2016
MARGATE – The Police Department recently installed a new, larger drop box for unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs and is asking residents to take the American Medicine Chest Challenge.
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comcastnewsmakers.com: [VIDEO] Do No Harm Campaign and Drug Abuse
Posted 1/19/2016
Jill Horner speaks with Angelo Valente, Executive Director from the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, about their Do No Harm Campaign and Drug Abuse