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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2023

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

PDFNJ and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Are Combatting Substance Use Through Parent Education

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey are equipping thousands of New Jersey parents with vital information to combat substance use and misuse through 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 for parents, empowering them to speak knowledgeably with their children and prevent substance use in their families. To culminate the program for the 2021-22 school year, PDFNJ and Horizon awarded a prize to a randomly selected parent who participated. Katy Hawalka of Farmingdale, whose child is a fifth grader at Ardena Elementary School, was selected as the winner and received a brand-new Apple iPad.

PDFNJ’s 5^th Grade Parent Alert Prize Winner Katy Hawalka enjoying her new iPad.

“PDFNJ research has shown that parents play an important role in helping their children lead a drug-free lifestyle,” said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ. “Providing parents with the right resources to have meaningful conversations with their children about substance use and misuse will help them lead a healthy lifestyle free of drugs and alcohol.”

The key to the program is to initiate discussions between parents and their children. PDFNJ research has shown that 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. More than 35,000 parents across the state received the information last year. The 5^th Grade Parent Alert is 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,” said Jonathan R. Pearson, Horizon’s Director of Corporate Social Responsibility. “We are proud to support this important program and commend the parents, teachers and students who are using the tool to communicate effectively about substance abuse and misuse.”

“PDFNJ is grateful to Horizon for its support of programs such as the 5^th Grade Parent Alert and other components of the Knock Out Opioid Abuse initiative,” Valente said.  “Horizon 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 $200 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 217 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