As always, the summer months came and went so quickly, and now it’s time to put away the beach chairs and pull out the books as we head back into another exciting school year!

A countless number of great opportunities lie ahead as students return to the classroom. Over the course of the year, students will be learning new things, making new friends, and continuing to grow. It is important that as they continue on their journey of learning their education also includes prevention to continue living a healthy lifestyle free of drugs.

Adolescent drug use is evolving, and our youth are at greater risk of using and becoming dependent on certain substances. Vaping, in particular, has become concerning trend among adolescents. Research shows that electronic cigarettes are the most frequently used tobacco product, and vaping may lead to brain damage. It is important for educators, parents, and caregivers to be aware of the current risks teens are facing to help aid in drug-use prevention.

Thankfully, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey offers several programs that can help keep you informed on up-to-date substance use research.  

You can learn more information about vaping in our 2019 15 Minute Child Break program. Our new Knock Out Opioid Abuse 5th Grade Parent Alert is also aimed at parents, providing them vital facts and resources for helping them to keep their children healthy and drug-free.

PDFNJ is currently inviting fourth grade students to submit artwork for the 2019-2020 Fun Things To Do Instead of Drugs Folder contest. Several thousand students entered last year’s Fourth Grade Folder Contest, submitting artistic prevention messages that displayed their creativity. The two winners chosen this past spring will have their work displayed on folders being distributed to fourth grade classes throughout the state for the 2019-20 school year. A limited number of folders are still available. Click HERE to request folders for your students.

PDFNJ offers another program for younger students, the Third Grade Contract for a Healthy Life. These activity books stress the importance of drug-free and healthy living. To request activity books for your students, click HERE.

Middle school students are invited to create a script for a 30-second public service announcement with a peer-to-peer substance abuse prevention message. The winning script will be filmed, starring the students who wrote it at their school. Educators can click HERE to learn more about how to place submissions.

PDFNJ’s efforts in schools would not be complete without the New Jersey Shout Down Drugs high school music competition. For the past 15 years, talented students from all over New Jersey have written original songs focusing on prevention, culminating in the annual Prevention Concert. At the end of a night filled with great performances and inspiring messages, three winners are chosen to continue to spread their message in performances during the following year. Click HERE for more information on the program.

Although many of the adults reading this have been out of school for a long time, it is vital that parents and guardians stay informed on prevention.

As the opioid misuse and abuse epidemic continues to impact our state, I also encourage students, parents, school officials and any other citizen to join the efforts to tackle the opioid epidemic on Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day on October 6.

I wish you all a great school year!