wellspringprevention.org

While e-cigarettes and vaping is an emerging phenomenon, the use of these devices can be particularly harmful to youth and young adults who do not already engage in smoking. Also, teens and young adults who vape are almost 4 times as likely as their non-vaping peers to begin smoking traditional cigarettes, according to a review published online in JAMA Pediatrics. In New Jersey, the sale and distribution of e-cigarette and vaping products – or tobacco products in general – is illegal to anyone under the age of 21. Understand why youth begin using e-cigarettes and how the curiosity towards these products can quickly turn into a habitual use or dependence.

The Middlesex County Coalition for Healthy Communities is seeking feedback with its on-going community survey about substance misuse. Then we compile the data and give feedback back to the Coalition members on what we found and that helps us shape what kind of issues we want to try to address in the community through our awareness and education programs. The Coalition is also able to take the community survey data and compare it to student responses in the Coalition’s bi-annual Pride Survey which solicits responses from sixth through twelfth graders in participating Middlesex school districts. The purpose of this survey is to learn the beliefs and attitudes our community has about underage drinking and substance misuse.

That is 174 daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, grandsons, granddaughters, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends that we have to find a way to mourn and live without every day. On August 30th, South Amboy put on a FEDUP rally and Overdose Awareness event at the South Amboy Middle School that brought law enforcement, educators, parents, health care providers, and community members together in remembering loved ones that were taken from this disease. They spoke with resilience, grace and love when they spoke about the accomplishments their child had reached in life before drugs and life in recovery. Each captivated speaker boldly shared the struggles they faced and currently still face along with the ability to overcome many obstacles and determination to stay sober and fight this battle every day.

On August 31, thousands of individuals across the country will commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day, a day to remember those we have lost in the fight against addiction, those who are still suffering, those in recovery, and their loved ones. On August 24, 2018, Dunellen held its second Overdose Awareness Day for their community at Washington Memorial Park. With support from the Dunellen Municipal Alliance, Wellspring Center for Prevention, Dunellen Police Department and Princeton House Behavioral Health, community members were able to experience a night of memorials and support. The Dunellen Police Department offered statistics about overdose deaths in the community – with the good news that the rate has dropped in the past year.