Blog
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Recent Incident Highlights Need for More Marijuana Education
The issue of edibles and the overall legalization of adult use of marijuana has made the work for all New Jersey school districts more challenging. Parents, who are now using marijuana in the home, need to be educated on what to do, as well as what not to do, to keep their children safe and why it is harmful for their kids to start early use. One obvious practice that must be utilized is for parents to secure their marijuana products in a manner that prevents easy access by their children.
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The Addiction Crisis in San Francisco & The Need for Meaningful Discussion about Drug Culture
I am sharing this insightful article that describes not only the addiction crisis in San Francisco but also brings up the need for a meaningful discussion about “drug culture” in the United States.
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“Gas Station Heroin” an Emerging Threat in New Jersey
Gas Station Heroin is an emerging threat in our state and we will be focusing this topic during the upcoming Knock Out Opioid Abuse Learning Series Webinar on February 29.
Expert panelists Bruce Ruck, PharmD, from the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System and Matthew Salzman, MD, of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University will discuss “Emerging Threats Within the Opioid Crisis.”
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Why Parents Who Lost Children to an Overdose Are Suing Snapchat
Preventing our youth from experimenting with alcohol, marijuana and other drugs has been a perennial challenge for parents. Today, in our world impacted so heavily by social media, that challenge is now made even more difficult. We know that part of the adolescent brain is geared toward experimenting and trying new things, and that can be healthy and a natural part of one’s overall development.
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Addressing Substance Use in Your Workplace
One important area where we can promote prevention, education, treatment and long-term recovery is in our workplaces. What would happen if an employee in your organization was thought to be under the influence of marijuana, alcohol or some other drug? Would your supervisor know what to do? Would the employee have a good understanding of your organization’s substance use policy?
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Study of Genomes Focuses on Biology of Cannabis Use Disorder
A recent study led by the Yale University School of Medicine analyzed more than 1 million genomes in order to provide insight on how use of cannabis is connected to multiple health problems.
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PDFNJ’s Middle School PSA Challenge Contest is Underway
The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s invites students in Grades 5 – 8 to participate in this year’s Middle School PSA Challenge. Students create a 30-second peer-to-peer video raising awareness about substance use and encourage their fellow students to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
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Marijuana’s Impact on Mental Illness Utilizing the Research We Have
One challenge to preventing the use and misuse of marijuana is the belief that using marijuana is a good way to relieve stress, anxiety or other problems related to mental health. It is easy to see how this attitude could become more prevalent as those marketing the sale of marijuana exploit this belief to entice potential buyers.
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A Happy New Year, but More to Learn About Opioid Crisis
I offer everyone my best wishes for a happy and healthy new year. The start of a year offers us the promise of a new beginning, and I am most hopeful in 2024 that we will continue to see a downward trend in the number of lives lost to drug overdoses in our state.
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Happy New Year!
All of us at the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey want to wish you a safe, healthy and peaceful New Year.