• SUBSTANCE INFORMATION

    ALCOHOL
    Alcohol is illegal to buy or possess if you are under age 21. It is a central nervous system depressant affecting virtually every organ in the body. It blocks the messages going to your brain and alters your perception and emotions, vision, hearing and coordination.  Alcohol lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, which can lead to risky behaviors.  The relationship between alcohol and motor vehicle crashes is widely acknowledged. In addition, alcohol use can lead to the abuse of other substances.

     

    TOBACCO 
    It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase tobacco products (Including E-cigarettes) because cigarette smoking is highly addictive and can cause diseases like emphysema, heart disease, stroke, and cancer, even premature death. Smoking is particularly dangerous for teens because their bodies are still developing and changing. Use of cigarettes can lead to the abuse other substances.  Besides that, it makes your breath smell bad and makes your teeth turn yellow!

     

    VAPING 
    What is Vaping?  Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol or vapor made from a liquid or dry material that is heated in an electronic powered device, called an electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette. The liquid can contain flavoring, nicotine, or marijuana concentrates. Dry herb vape devices can heat dry marijuana without combusting it and without using additional liquid. Generally, the vaping device consists of a battery, a cartridge for containing the e-liquid or dry marijuana, and a heating component.

     

    MARIJUANA
    It is illegal to buy/sell/possess Marijuana in the State of NJ if you are under 21. Marijuana affects your judgment, drains your motivation and can make you feel anxious. It affects your self-control, including your sense of time and coordination, leading to burns, falls and car crashes. It can be laced with other dangerous drug and substances without your knowledge. “Blunts” – hollowed out cigars filled with marijuana – sometimes have substances such as cocaine, PCP, or embalming fluid added. Despite popular perception, you can become addicted to marijuana and smoking marijuana is even worse than smoking tobacco. One joint affects the lungs as much as four cigarettes.

     

    INHALANT USE
    The abuse of ordinary household products can cause severe consequences including permanent brain damage, loss of muscle control and destruction of the heart, blood, kidney, liver and bone marrow. Inhalant abuse can kill; it can kill suddenly and it can kill those who sniff for the first time.

     

    COCAINE AND CRACK
    Cocaine and crack are illegal and highly addictive. Even first time users may experience seizures or heart attacks, which can be fatal. People using crack and cocaine can do risky things they later regret. Car crashes, falls, burns, drowning and suicide are all linked to drug use.

     

    OPIOID
    Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others. These substances are highly addictive and have been linked to many deaths in New Jersey as well as other states. 

     

    PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE
    Prescription medication provides many benefits when used correctly under a doctor’s care. When abused or used incorrectly they are as dangerous as illicit drugs especially when combined with alcohol and other illicit drugs. It can kill you! It is illegal for someone to take or use someone else’s prescription medication.