聽The 17 regional coalitions selected to advance this programming will focus efforts on reducing rates of use and abuse among youth and adults across the state. It is estimated that one in nine New Jersey residents - about 1 million - are abusing prescription drugs or illegal substances. This includes youth, ages 12 through 18.聽
鈥淔ighting alcohol and substance abuse, especially among youth, requires programs that are customized to their problems and needs,鈥� Commissioner Velez said. 鈥淯tilizing regional coalitions will allow us to be more effective in changing social norms, attitudes and behavior that contribute to substance use and abuse.鈥�
Several studies have shown that alcohol, marijuana and over-the-counter or prescription medications can be gateway drugs. They are cheap, readily available or accessible mood enhancers that can lead to experimentation with 鈥榟arder鈥�, more potent drugs, according to some studies.
The Department鈥檚 Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services received funding for the project from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration鈥檚 Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant.
The coalitions must engage residents, local government, law enforcement, schools, nonprofit organizations, the faith community, youth and other key groups to work in tandem to
identify, collect, analyze, and assess data on regional problems and assess the region鈥檚 capacity to effectively address the identified problems.聽
Contracts ranging from $149,776 to $204,500 were awarded to:
鈥⒙燭he Southwest Council, Inc. of Vineland, for Cumberland/Salem counties and one for Gloucester County
鈥⒙燩revention First of Ocean for Monmouth County
鈥⒙燘arnabas Health Institute of West Orange for Ocean County
鈥⒙燩revention Plus of Lumberton for Burlington County;
鈥⒙燙amden County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Use Inc. of Voorhees for Camden County;
鈥⒙燞unterdon Prevention Resources of Flemington for Hunterdon County;
鈥⒙燤ercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction of Trenton for Mercer County;
鈥⒙燭he Center for Prevention & Counseling in Newton for Sussex and Warren counties;
鈥⒙燙ape Assist in Wildwood聽 for Cape May and Atlantic counties;
鈥⒙� The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources in Hackensack for Bergen County;
鈥⒙燜amily Connections in Orange for Essex County;
鈥⒙燦CADD Hudson Partners In Prevention in Jersey City for Hudson County;
鈥⒙燦CADD Middlesex County, Inc. in East Brunswick for Middlesex County;
鈥⒙燱illiam Paterson University in Wayne for Passaic County;聽 and
鈥⒙燩revention Links in Clark for Union County.
Two training contracts to support the coalitions were awarded to the Rutgers School of Social Work in New Brunswick ($150,000) and New Jersey Prevention Network in Lakewood ($200,000).
For more information on prevention programs, go to .
