A recent NJ.com article shared a study finding that the number of teens in America who vape marijuana has doubled in recent years, and there is evidence that they prefer using infused oil that can deliver a much stronger high.

Medical and adolescent mental health experts in New Jersey who reviewed the study say this trend must be combatted with a clear message, taught in school and inscribed on packaging labels, emphasizing how marijuana harms the developing brain. I strongly share this concern.

As New Jersey continues to process the impact of legalized recreational marijuana, it is important to remember that new legislation does not apply to our youth.  We need to send a unified message that differences exist between adolescent and fully developed adult brains, and marijuana use can be very dangerous for an adolescent brain.

In 2021, The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey focused on this issue through a coordinated media campaign on billboards, buses and trains, as well as through school-based programs and parent education that inform children and adults alike, because studies show substance use increases as perception of risk decreases. We look forward to working with education and public health leaders to help ensure that children and teens can grow up healthy in the Garden State. If you would like to access these important prevention messages, please visit our Awareness Toolkit.

I also wanted to take a moment to remind you that there is one week left to enter PDFNJ’s 4th Grade Folder Artwork Contest. The contest always draws many talented students from across the state that share their substance use prevention artwork with the theme “Fun Things to Do Instead of Doing Drugs.” The winning artwork will be printed on 40,000 folders, which will be distributed to schools all throughout the state. Click here for more details and to enter.

Stay well.

All the best, 
Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ