Blog
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Ray Lucas’s Lifesaving Message to Student Athletes
Throughout the past 18 months PDFNJ has been collaborating with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to educate youth athletes about the risks of prescription opioids and how to take care of themselves physically and mentally.
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Happy Memorial Day
As we are all getting ready to celebrate Memorial Day this upcoming weekend, I wanted to take a moment to recognize the sacrifice that our brave servicemen and women have made and remember the heroes who have courageously lost their lives to keep our country safe.
I hope you all get to spend some time with family and friends and enjoy the long weekend. -
We Must Continue to Protect Our Children's Mental and Physical Health
The link between screen time and mental health is clear. Earlier this year, U.
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Shining A Light on the Dangers of Fentanyl
Yesterday was National Fentanyl Awareness Day, a day to raise awareness of the dangers of opioids and the deadly synthetic opioid, fentanyl, and its direct link to prescription opioids.
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Opioids are as Deadly as a Scorpion
The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s PDFNJ newest video PSAs involved filming a live scorpion, which proved to be quite challenging. This week’s guest blogger, Collette Liantonio of Concepts TV, shares her experience working with PDFNJ and the scorpion to help us create this video.
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Light The Night for the Shore Community
I wanted to share some information about an upcoming Light the Night event being put together by Wall High School’s D.E.L.T.A Leadership Club, the high school of 2020 Shout Down Drugs Music Competition second-place winner Nicole Pinnella.
The event, being held at Allaire Community Farm from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on May 3rd, will bring together local shore community members and surrounding Wall Township communities to honor and remember those lost to drug overdose, COVID-19 and other types of loss.
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Knock Out Opioid Abuse Student Athlete Initiative Coming to Rutgers University
I am excited to share that the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) is bringing its Knock Out Opioid Abuse Student Athlete Initiative to Rutgers University.
Students from across New Jersey will be coming together at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 26 at Jersey Mike’s Arena to hear from former Rutgers and NFL quarterback, Ray Lucas, who became dependent on prescription opioids due to injuries sustained during his playing career. Lucas has spoken about his addiction and recovery in an effort to help others who have struggled with addiction and to prevent youth athletes from going down the path to addiction.
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Alcohol Awareness Month
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, I encourage all parents to speak with their children about the long-term effects that alcohol can have, and why living a healthy lifestyle is important. Excessive drinking can compromise the immune system, impair good judgment and damage a developing brain.
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Welcome Spring!
This week we mark the beginning of Passover and the ushering in of Easter. I wanted to take a moment to wish all who celebrate a happy and joyous holiday. These holidays usually come at the beginning of spring, which is a time of rebirth. I hope that this holiday time will bring renewed growth, prosperity, joy and peace for all.
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Partnering in Prevention Recovery, Support, & Advocacy
The faith-based community are great partners in prevention recovery, support, and advocacy. Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey has collaborated with the faith leaders multiple times to share important lifesaving messages.