In 2020, there were 3,046 suspected drug-related deaths in New Jersey (source:  NJ Department of Law and Public Safety).  Many of these deaths involved opioids including heroin, fentanyl as well as prescription painkillers.  According to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a majori...

I've had a long and fulfilling career in prevention over the past 29 years.  Starting out as a part time prevention educator teaching a primary prevention program known as BABES for young children using puppets and storytelling when my own children were very young.  Prevention Science was still a fairly "young" fi...

The sound of the Shofar (ram's horn) is the signal that the Days of Awe, the ten-day period from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur has begun. This is a period of serious introspection and soul-searching. It is a time to heal hurts, offer apologies, mend misunderstandings, and right wrongs. These 10 days are considered the most sacred on the Jewish calend...

  The Mercer Council and Prevention Coalition of Mercer County were proud to be represented at 5 different National Night Out (NNO) locations throughout Mercer County on August 3rd. National Night Out is an important event that seeks to foster and enhance relationships between neighborhoods/communities and various law enforcement agencies. Sta...

The Prevention Coalition of Mercer County is teaming up with The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey to promote the 2021 public health campaign that focuses on raising awareness of the risks associated with adolescent use of marijuana.  "The recent legislation passed in New Jersey making retail cannabis legal for those 21 yea...

On Monday, July 19th, Barbara Sprechman hand delivered the 2021 Excellence in Prevention Award to Senator Greenstein at her office in Cranbury.  After holding the virtual Excellence in Prevention Awards event in June, it was wonderful to have a face-to-face encounter! "Given the pandemic's toll on mental health, making sure that the ...

Mercer Council has held virtual staff meetings since the beginning of the pandemic last year, so it was great to finally get back together for some face to face interaction outside our building in the parking lot area this past week.   We welcome two new members to our School Based Youth Services Program ASYSST:  Carly...

Mercer Council and the Prevention Coalition of Mercer County were pleased to sponsor 5 county law enforcement officers to attend Sgt. Scott Kivet's Street Cop Training Class:  Drug Identification, Paraphernalia and the Motor Vehicle Stop on Monday, May 24th.  This course gives police officers the skills they need to formulate effective an...

Asia Panzino,  first GA Scholarship Awardee, 2018 Taylor Escher, 2019 GA Scholarship Awardee Gianna Anselmo, 2020 GA Schcolarship Awardee Four years ago, Geetha Arulmohan, Executive Director and leader of Mercer Council passed away.  In her memory, a scholarship fund was created to support individuals pursuing their education in...

Mercer Council and The Prevention Coalition of Mercer County are pleased to announce their 8th Annual Excellence in Prevention Awards Event to be held on Wednesday, June 9th.  This annual event honors those individuals, agencies, associations and companies from around the county that have made significant contributions over the past year to ensure the health, safety and well-being of various ...

Every year, we recognize April as Alcohol Awareness Month.  You might ask why this is still important, given the fact that so much media attention is given to illegal drugs, like heroin, fentanyl and misuse of prescription opioids.  In February, the American Psychological Association conducted a nationwide survey and found that one in four adults reported drinking alcohol more this past ...

The Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction is hosting a special event on Thursday, April 8th at 7pm -  "The First Choice and a Second Chance" featuring Stephen Hill, founder of Speak Sobriety.  Stephen is a motivational speaker, author and advocate for substance abuse prevention. He graduated with honors from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Brooklyn Law School.After suf...

It's that time again -- time to encourage all graduating high school seniors planning on attending college in the fall, as well as students currently enrolled in college, those in licensure programs and college seniors planning to attend graduate school to apply for the Geetha Arulmohan Scholarship Award.  This education scholarship is in the amount of $500 and is available to Merce...

When it comes to the opiate crisis, which has had a resurgence in fatal overdoses in the past year, we need to bring to bear every possible resource against it. The hundreds of thousands of Americans who have lost their lives during this crisis should compel us to adopt an all hands and all best-practices model. Yet we have not been doing everything possible to save lives from overdoses, including...

  In less than five minutes, you can make a big difference in the health and well-being of your community.  Every year, the Prevention Coaliiton of Mercer County distributes this survey in order to help us get a snapshot of our community's progress towards healthy, safe and drug-free environments.  It also assists us in making adjustments to our current and future strategic planning...

The stresses of the pandemic as well as the social isolation felt from distancing measures takes a toll on all of us.  Older adults and their caregivers are also a group that can been hit hard by feelings of loneliness, anxiety and boredom.  Find out in our next "Morning Conversations" how to build senior and caregiver resilience during the COVID pandemic and beyond with Dale Ofei-Ayisi....

In 2019, more than 3,000 people died of a drug overdose in New Jersey. This tragic total actually represented a decrease from the previous year and perhaps a positive sign of progress being made in the fight against the opioid crisis. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged New Jersey and the nation, overdose deaths have increased once again with the state on pace to experience roughly 3,200...

  On July 23rd, the Prevention Coalition of Mercer County, Mercer Council and WBCB 1490AM Radio collaborated together to broadcast an hour-long forum on the impact of COVID 19 on the student athletes' social and emotional well-being.  Panelists included Jon Adams, Athletic Director of Nottingham High School in Hamilton Township, Bill Bruno from NJSIAA and Dr. Mike Gross, a clinical and s...

                                                                              As New Jersey begins to slowly open up bars and restaurants, two alcohol establishments in Mercer County are taking advant...

  We are living through a pandemic that most of us have never experienced in our lifetimes.  Recessions, depressions, wars, the Spanish Influenza, COVID-19 – do you know what all these national crises have in common?  Alcohol sales flourish during times of uncertainty and stress.  Nationally, alcohol sales have increased in stores by 29% since late March – and 291% through onli...