August 2023 • Volume XXXI

January - May 31, 2023

Suspected Overdose Deaths: 3

Naloxone Administrations: 26

Opioid Prescriptions: 15,123

Source: NJ office of Attorney General (NJCARES)

The End of Menthol in NJ?

NJ is taking another step closer to seeing the last of menthol cigarettes on the shelves at retail stores state-wide. CDC Health and Prevention experts agree, the end of menthol sales could positively impact the wellness of NJ citizens, especially in black communities where tobacco companies have historically pitched menthol products to Black consumers.

Click here to read further about the debate.

The Delta-8 Debate

NJ lawmakers rush to ban Delta-8 due to health concerns & the accessibility youth have to the unregulated products. "According to the National Poison Control Center, it received 2,362 exposure cases of Delta-8 THC products between Jan. 1, 2021 and Feb. 28, 2022".

Click this link to read more of this article.

Peer Pressure digitized

What does peer pressure look like in 2023? Are teens still using lines like "everybody's doing it" to convince friends to take a sip or hit? Possibly, but studies have shown that peers using and glorifying substances on social media has a huge impact on whether or not many underage youth make risky decisions to use/misuse drugs and alcohol. “Likes and comments — what we call quantifiable reinforcement — from these popular social media platforms suggest approval of risk behaviors,” said lead author Julie Cristello, a doctoral candidate in the FIU Clinical Science Program in Child and Adolescent Psychology.

Click on this link to read more about the new age of digital peer pressure.

UPCOMING EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Veggiepalooza!!!

Every Wednesday, 11am

Location: 5 East Main Street in Flemington

No Registration Required

LGBTQ Youth Advisory Board

Prevention Resources is working with

LGBTQ youth across Central NJ to create

a Youth Advisory Board!

Prevention Resources has just been awarded funding for LGBTQ+ youth in high schools. This funding will promote collaboration and integration of programs in providing LGBTQ+ youth and their families with mainstream services to LGBTQ+ providers through Health and Human Services. If you work with youth who may be interested, please share this link to sign up. If you have any questions, reach out to Dennis or Amanda K.

Overdose Awareness Day

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died from overdose, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. Join us on to honor and remember those we have lost.

When: August 26th from 1-4 PM

Where: Raritan Valley Community College Event Center

118 lamington Rd.

Branchburg, NJ