Marijuana Misuse and Underage Drinking
According to NJ law, it is an offense to knowingly serve or purchase alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. It is also an offense for a parent/guardian/sibling/etc. to make their property available for the consumption of alcohol by a minor. Don't wait until it's too late to discuss with your child the dangers of drugs and alcohol!
Youth Health Impact
Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience changes in brain development, social problems, unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sex, plus misuse of other substances.
Facts to Consider
Click the PDF icon in this section to learn more about some marijuana and cannabis facts to consider.
Included in the PDF is information on the Substance Use Referral and Education (SURE) hotline that will be facilitated by the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County (MHAMC). The SURE hotline is a resource for youth and families to find support for underage substance use challenges. SURE staff members will assist in providing referral and linkages to assessments, treatment, and other applicable community resources based on the family’s needs. Call (732) 542-6422 to access the hotline, or visit the website at www.mentalhealthmonmouth.org for more information.
Breathe Easy
In 2017, the New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act was amended to include parks and beaches and prohibit the use of electronic smoking devices. The PCMC task force for Underage Drinking, Marijuana Misuse and Tobacco Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) has been providing awareness of FREE Breathe Easy Smoke-Free Signs for all public parks and beaches in Monmouth County.
Do you want to join this initiative and help provide signage to support smoke free air in public places in your town? For more information on the Breathe Easy Signs, and to request your signs today, please visit https://www.tobaccofreenj.com/smokefreeair
Information on Vaping
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Tobacco Free for a Healthy NJ (TFHNJ), a program funded by the NJ Department of Health, recognizes that vaping has become an epidemic among our middle and high school students. According to data from CDC and the FDA’s National Youth Tobacco Survey, the percentage of high school children reporting past 30-day use of e-cigarettes rose by more than 75% between 2017 and 2018.
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In a response to this alarming trend TFHNJ has created a comprehensive, multi strategy approach. These strategies include the Youth Tobacco Action Groups, the creation of a Vaping Policy Toolkit, and the “Don’t Get Vaped In” training initiative. Each of these strategies have been put in place to engage youth tobacco prevention and assist schools and communities in responding effectively using educational and supportive approaches.
Did You Know?
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PCMC offers FREE Don’t Get Vaped In Trainings as follows:
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Adult to Adult training: School personnel, parents and community with Don’t Get Vaped In: The Next Generation of Tobacco Addiction
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With this training, you will receive a training manual complete with PowerPoints with corresponding talking points to guide your presentation. In order to ensure that you are using the most up to date information, we have created a Trainer Portal that participants who have attended the training can have access to.
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Adult to Youth training: Health teachers, prevention educators and other adults teaching youth utilizing the Don’t Get Vaped In curriculum; and
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Youth to Youth training: This version is for youth leaders to utilize as a framework for peer-to-peer education. This Peer-to-Peer model is the ideal way to have youth educate their peers about the dangers of vaping and e-cigarettes. This curriculum can be useful “as is” or be re-designed (content remains) by your youth group.