FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24, 2022

Contact: Natalie Golub, 973-382-4560, natalie@drugfreenj.org

PDFNJ and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Deliver
Parent Education to Combat Substance Use

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey are combatting substance use by equipping thousands of New Jersey parents with important information with the 5^th Grade Parent Alert program.

The 5^th Grade Parent Alert, part of PDFNJ and Horizon’s Knock Out Opioid Abuse initiative, provides tips and resources to parents, empowering them to speak knowledgably with their children and prevent substance use in their families. To culminate the program for the 2020-21 school year, PDFNJ and Horizon awarded prizes to a randomly selected parent who participated. Paul Avenoso of Toms River, whose son Cruz is a 5^th Grader at West Dover Elementary School was selected as the winner and received a brand-new iPad.

 Winner Paul Avenso’s son, Cruz, enjoying their new iPad.

“PDFNJ research has shown that parents play a key role in helping their children lead a drug-free lifestyle,’ said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ. “Providing parents with the right tools and resources will ensure that they are able to have these important conversations about substance use and misuse with their children to steer them in leading a healthy lifestyle free of drugs and alcohol.”

The program stresses the importance of communication, as PDFNJ research has shown, children who communicate regularly with their parents about their daily activities are 67 percent less likely to be involved in substance use than children who have little or no communication.

In an effort to aid parents, the 5^th Grade Parent Alert is offered free of charge to all New Jersey parents of fifth grade students, through a grant from Horizon’s philanthropic arm, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. More than 35,000 parents across the state received the information. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 5^th Grade Parent Alert has been made available to be easily downloaded at knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org/5th-grade-parent-alert.

“Through the 5^th Grade Parent Alert, Horizon and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey are equipping students, parents, schools and community organizations with the resources they need to improve young peoples’ awareness of the dangers of opioids.  We are proud to support this important program and commend the parents, teachers and students who are using the toll to communicate effectively about substance abuse and misuse,” said Jonathan R. Pearson, Executive Director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.

“PDFNJ is grateful to the Horizon Foundation for its support of programs such as the 5^th Grade Parent Alert and other components of the Knock Out Opioid Abuse initiative,” said Valente.  “The Horizon Foundation is truly dedicated to the residents of New Jersey with their continued efforts and generosity in assisting hundreds of nonprofits throughout the state, including the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.”

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Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey: Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $100 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 211 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.

About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state's oldest and largest health insurer is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health service corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, vision and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is leading the transformation of health care in New Jersey by working with doctors and hospitals to deliver innovative, patient-centered programs that reward the quality, not quantity, of care patients receive. Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association serving more than 3.5 million members.

About The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey: The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is committed to working alongside those who can help us improve our neighbors’ health, inform their health decisions and inspire them to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. The Foundation’s funding pillars are Caring, Connecting and Creating. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is the sole member of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, both of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit www.Horizonblue.com/Foundation