Blog

  • Racial Inequality in Receipt of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

    Posted 6/28/2023 by Angelo M. Valente

    A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported on racial disparities in addiction treatment, including the new finding that White patients received medication for opioid use disorder (OUD) up to 80% more frequently than Black patients and up to 25% more frequently than Hispanic patients, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Dartmouth College.

  • Opioid Withdrawal: What We Need to Know

    Posted 6/21/2023 by Angelo M. Valente

    Patient notification of the risks of opioids has been a cornerstone of the PDFNJ message for the past decade - through public information campaigns and legislation that we have authored and advocated for that can help save lives. It is viral that patients and parents of patients are informed of risks for dependency and addiction from prescribed opioids. Patients need to be told about the signs and symptoms of dependency and addiction as well.

  • Communication is Key in Protecting Our Children

    Posted 6/14/2023 by Angelo M. Valente

    We continue to learn more and shine light on the link between screen time, mental health and substance use. 

     

    Parents and caregivers - we must communicate the risks to our children and help them make healthy and safe decisions.

  • New Opioid Overdose Reversal Nasal Spray

    Posted 6/7/2023 by Angelo M. Valente

    The FDA recently approved Opvee, a new opioid overdose reversal nasal spray that is similar to Narcan but contains nalmefene, the first reversal drug to do so. Currently, Opvee is available by prescription.

  • Ray Lucas’s Lifesaving Message to Student Athletes

    Posted 5/31/2023 by Angelo M. Valente

    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.

  • Happy Memorial Day

    Posted 5/24/2023 by Angelo M. Valente

    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

    Posted 5/17/2023 by Angelo M. Valente

    The link between screen time and mental health is clear. Earlier this year, U.

  • Shining A Light on the Dangers of Fentanyl

    Posted 5/10/2023 by Angelo M. Valente

    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.

  • Opioids are as Deadly as a Scorpion

    Posted 5/3/2023 by Angelo M. Valente

    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.

  • Light The Night for the Shore Community

    Posted 4/26/2023 by Angelo M. Valente

    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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