January 2023 • Volume XXIV

Congratulations

Drug-Free Task Force!

We are thrilled to announce the Drug-Free Task Force has won CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America) Coalition of Excellence national award for Intermediate Outcomes. The Coalition of Excellence award is part of CADCA’s Got Outcomes! award program, which gives national recognition to exemplary coalitions that have clearly documented their impact on population-level substance use outcomes. To achieve success, coalitions must determine effective solutions to substance misuse in their community. The Drug Free-Task Force will receive this award on Feb. 2, 2023, during CADCA’s 2023 National Leadership Forum at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. Click this link for the full TAP article.

We couldn't have done this without YOU & we are honored to accept this award on your behalf. We greatly appreciate your commitment to helping us achieve this goal & for the many ways you support the vision and mission of the Drug-Free Task Force.



Fast Facts

Jan. - Oct. 2022

Suspected Overdose Deaths: 14

Naloxone Administrations: 51

Opioid Prescriptions: 31,093

Source: NJ office of Attorney General (NJCARES)

Please complete our

coalition survey!

We are interested in hearing from you! How are we doing? How can we improve? It takes just a few minutes to complete the survey. We value your opinion! You can access the survey here .

Marijuana poisonings on the rise in teens.

With perception of harm decreasing and accessibility to marijuana increasing, cannabis cases have flooded poison control hotlines across the country. "According to a new study, the number of calls involving marijuana rose 245% among 6- to 18-year-olds between 2000 and 2020. Over 80% of exposures were among adolescents 13 to 18".

Click here for more information on this topic.

"If they had known"

a documentary film

“If They Had Known” is 35-minute documentary about Clay Soper's tragic accidental death mixing prescription drugs with alcohol. The film is a catalyst for discussion about the dangers surrounding the misuse of prescription drugs today and provides teens with life-saving information. Check out this link to read more about Clay's life, their message to educators, parents and community and view the documentary trailer.

A Chef's Perspective

Making Plant Based Meals

Are you interested in making healthy changes in 2023? Consider participating in a cooking class focused on plant-based ingredients. Click this link for more information & to register for this 3-part series.

Autism Presentation

January 17, 2023

Please join the Partnership for Health in a virtual presentation to learn about autism. This will help all of our organizations to be sensitive to the unique needs of people with autism so we can best serve everyone in our community.

All are welcome to this training.

For more information and to obtain the link contact Kim Blanda.

Angels are Everywhere

January 6 & 7, 2023

Mark your calendars and come support Angels are Everywhere, the musical, January 6 & 7 2023 at Lehigh University's Zoellner Performing Arts Center, in Bethlehem, PA. This is a fundraising event for the Open Door Recovery Center in memory of our dear friend & colleague, Shaun Malleck.

Check out this YouTube video for a preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogbgLPNyODE