Mercer Council News

A new drunk driving law is in effect that will require convicted first time offenders with a legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 to install ignition interlock devices as a means to stop them from driving while intoxicated. The new law also applies to individuals who refuse to provide a breath test after they are pulled over. Individuals convicted of drunk driving will be required to blo...

Mercer Council was moved by the generosity of community members in attendance at our 2nd Annual Benefit Luncheon and Silent Auction, held on September 24, 2019, at the Stone Terrace by John Henry's in Hamilton, NJ.  Various sectors of the community contributed to this event, including Luncheon attendees, donators, special guest speakers, dignitaries and sponsors.  Proceeds from...

(From left to right: Campfire NJ Executive Director Jessica Nitti, Mercer Council Assistant Director Barbara Sprechman and Campfire Associate Executive Director Kelly Nitti)

(Barbara Sprechman gives her Community Champion Acceptance Speech) Last night, I was privleged to have attended Campfire NJ's 19th annual Golf Outing Fundraiser.  Campfire is a wonderful organization that serves the youth of our communities in a variety of ways.  Because of their dedication to and passion for shaping our youth, they deserve to be supported and celebrated.  It was a ...

Successful Year for Protecting You, Protecting Me!

The 2018-2019 school year has concluded, and the Protecting You, Protecting Me (PYPM) alcohol use prevention program for grades K-5 was delivered to students at Washington Elementary School in Trenton, NJ. Over 300 students participated in PYPM, and all grades K-5 were reached! Thank you to all the staff and students who welcomed me into their school to provide this beneficial program! When asked ...

Please see the below message from Governor Phil Murphy. This is an amazing chance to take advantage of an opportunity to be equipped with this critical life saving medication!  For more information Click here.

Mercer Council was visited on May 14th, by 3 individuals from the State of New Jersey, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, who are involved at the state level in the Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (OORP).  DMHAS representatives at Mercer Council's monthly OORP meeting, sung their praise for Mercer Council's OORP program, indicating in 2018, Mercer Council successfully linked 4...

 The Superbowl is approaching, and along with the hype of the anticipated game, comes the excitement associated with the Superbowl commercials that will be aired during the broadcast. Companies will use creative means to present their products and services in the hopes that consumers will buy and utilize them. Many children and teenagers will view these commercials and therefore, it is import...

As the start to the new school year approaches, it is important to ensure all children are buckled up, seated properly in vehicles, and are aware what to do to protect themselves if they ever find themselves riding in a vehicle with an unsafe driver. The image below contains safe riding tips for children. In the event a child finds him or herself riding with an unsafe driver, it is crucial to tell...

For the 4th year, Mercer Council will be co-sponsoring the Fathers and Men United for a Better Trenton (FAMUBT) annual Community Day. This is a free event open to all Mercer County residents with lots of free food, entertainment, community vendors, and, of course, backpack giveaways for students. Come out this Saturday, August 25th from 11am to 7pm for this great event located at Cadwalder Pa...

September is National Recovery Month. What does this mean? Well, it means that this is a time each year that gets attention to all those people in and/or supporting someone else in recovery. Addiction affects millions of people; in fact in 2014 alone, 21.5 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder (National Survey on Drug Use and Health). It is very easy to only ...

OPIOID MISUSE PREVENTION DAY  Prescription Opioid Drug Abuse is a worldwide epidemic that has plagued The United Statesd from coast to coast. The most abused medications are opiates, or pain relievers such as : oxycodone, methadone, hydrocodone,codeine, and percocet. The amount of prescription painkillers prescribed, and sold in the US has substantially increased. The emergency department adm...

Boom, there goes the Thunder! Mercer Council staff outing to Trenton Thunder baseball game on 8/8/18  Vanessa DeRosa, Malissa Arnold, Boomer Mascot, Ian Smith, Lisa Kauffman  Rookie, the bat dog! Cloudman, Trenton Thunder mascot Brian Bittings enjoying the game from the stands  Home team wins!

Jocelyn Cooper (Executive Director) talking with community members about prevention and the importance of community feedback!

The Mercer Council and Prevention Coalition of Mercer County were proud to be represented at 9 different National Night Out (NNO) locations throughout Mercer County.  National Night Out is an event that seeks to foster and enhance the relationships between neighborhoods/comminuties and various law enforcement agencies.  At the Lawrence Township NNO, Jocelyn Cooper engaged with children, ...

Mercer Council Staff, family and friends group shot.. thanks to Hal Sprechman's camera stand! Amy Argiriou and family, Gwen Jennings and family! Vanessa DeRosa and family, Ian Smith, Argiriou Family Jocelyn Cooper and Lisa Kauffman Food Tent! Charcuterie Board, brought to us by Nadine Cooper (Jocelyn's mom)! Staff and family enjoying the delicious food!  Each picnic goer brought a dish to sha...

Friends and Family of Mercer Council Staff gathered on 7/22/2018 at Lawrence Village Park, Bergen Street Pavilion to celebrate their history, accomplishments, future and one another.  It turned out to be a beautiful day, despite reports of bad weather.  Staff, family, children and friends enjoyed one another's company over delicious food, refreshing non-alcoholic beverages and a variety ...

Dangerous Drug Interactions: Please consult your health care provider before using prescription pain medications with other substances. Did you know that according to the CDC, about one half of deaths from prescription pain medications involve the use of at least one other drug? Mixing opioids with other substances can cause dangerous side effects, including breathing trouble, coma and even perman...

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine, which is based on the idea of balance in bodily systems. It uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing.Anupa Mohan has a passion for health and believes that everyone deserves to live happily. She has dedicated herself to studying the ancient science of Ayurveda and integrating it into modern ...

Essential Oils to Support Emotional, Spiritual & Physical Wellbeing with Allison Goldschlag Reinking All attendees will receive a FREE copy of Allison's Natural Sleep Solution E-book & Natural Home Detox E-book. At this FREE workshop, you'll learn: * Why essential oils have become so popular. * Natural ways to manage stress, prevent burnout...

This education scholarship is in the amount of $500. It is available to Mercer County residents (or individuals attending school in Mercer County) pursuing education/certification/licensure in the fields of prevention, social work, counseling or substance related challenges (i.e., CADC, CPS, LCADC, CPRS, CRSP or Bachelors in the fields of social wo...

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