By Laurie Herrick, Preventionist  Dry January is when an individual voluntarily refrains from drinking alcohol for the month of January. Some people do it annually as part of their New Year's resolution while others use it to detox from overconsumption of alcohol over the holidays. Dry January began as a public health campaign in Europe a...

What do you do with your prescription medication when you no longer need it? Do you dispose of it, or do you hold onto it in case you need it again down the road? While it may not seem like a big deal, improperly storing a surplus of prescription medications can be very dangerous for both families and their visiting guests.  The National Safety Council has described the billions of prescription pills found in home medicine cabinets as “the largest source of easily available and ‘free’ abused medications.”  Many people don’t realize these risks or don’t believe they could be true in their own household. This is part of the reason why holding on to prescription medications is such a common practice across the country. In a poll by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, participants were asked if they had any leftover prescription medications in their home. Half...

Much of society is struggling to recover from the ongoing pandemic's lasting emotional and mental health effects. Students especially are facing difficulties coming back to school after time off or taking classes online. As a teacher, being equipped with the proper resources can make all the difference for your students. Here's how to help your stu...

By Laurie Herrick, Preventionist October is National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month. It is observed annually to raise awareness of the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicine abuse. One of the goals is to educate parents and youth about the potential dangers associated with prescription and OTC medicine abuse. About one in 25 yo...

If you've always wanted to help others, consider the growing field of addiction services. Addiction treatment and prevention agencies across New Jersey employ thousands of dedicated individuals working hard to make a difference in the lives of the people they serve. And more are needed. So if you are trying to obtain a Certified Alcohol and Drug (C...

Are you interested in becoming a certified prevention specialist? It's an admirable line of work where you can make a huge impact on youth and the local community, but passing the certification exam isn't easy. Here are five study tips to help you prepare for the certification exam.   1. Space out your study sessions While you may retain some ...

Prevention education is important for children of all ages in developing healthy coping mechanisms and resisting toxic peer pressure. That's why many schools offer prevention education programs as part of their curriculum. But having a program in place isn't always enough — especially if that child is going home to an unhealthy household or one tha...

It's no shock that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted many people's mental health, but this is especially true for those who were already suffering from a mental illness like a substance use disorder (SUD). Here's how the global health crisis has impacted substance use. Pandemic anxiety and isolation has caused many to turn to substances...

One of the largest pandemic adjustments — for children and their parents or guardians — has been remote learning. Teachers and students grappled with technology resources, and families had to figure out how to make home spaces school spaces. The transition wasn't without impact. Changes in the social experience of school brought special attention t...

The rate of opioid usage, and subsequent opioid addiction, in the United States is at a record high. The adverse effects of these opioids, including prescribed painkillers, fentanyl, and heroin, is causing socio-economic turmoil and a public health crisis. These effects have only gotten worse with the current COVID-19 pandemic. Here's an inside loo...