Introduction Substance abuse is no longer a specter confined to the shadows of youth or midlife crises. Increasingly, it has become a silent epidemic among the elderly—a demographic often overlooked in public health dialogues. In New Jersey, the issue is particularly acute, with a rapidly aging population and limited geriatric-centered addiction services compounding the problem.
Introduction Addiction continues to be a pervasive challenge across the United States, with New Jersey reflecting a microcosm of this national crisis. The multifaceted nature of substance abuse demands treatment approaches that extend beyond individual focus to encompass the broader social and familial environment. Within this spectrum, family therapy emerges as a crucial pillar, offering
Introduction In recent years, New Jersey has emerged as a crucible in the fight against substance use disorders. With the opioid crisis ravaging communities from urban Newark to the coastal enclaves of Atlantic County, the state has had to innovate swiftly. Traditionally seen as enforcers of the law, police departments are now recasting their roles,
Introduction New Jersey stands as a microcosm of America’s complex relationship with gambling. While the state has long embraced wagering as a substantial economic engine, it simultaneously grapples with the repercussions of compulsive gambling. This duality—prosperity and peril—has shaped New Jersey’s distinctive approach to addressing gambling addiction. As access to betting becomes increasingly frictionless, the
Introduction The landscape of addiction care is undergoing a profound metamorphosis. No longer confined to siloed treatment that isolates individuals, a more holistic and integrative ethos is emerging—family-centered addiction care. Nowhere is this shift more evident than in New Jersey, where systemic change is reshaping how recovery is pursued and sustained. Rooted in a deep
Introduction In the crucible of New Jersey’s multifaceted addiction crisis, a quiet technological revolution is underway. The Garden State, long embattled by opioid dependence and escalating behavioral health issues, now finds itself at the nexus of recovery science and artificial intelligence. This convergence is redefining the contours of addiction care—moving from reactive treatment to proactive
Introduction As the opioid crisis deepens and synthetic drugs evolve in potency and distribution, the margin for delayed response narrows. Traditional public health surveillance systems, often bogged down by bureaucratic lag, are no longer sufficient. New Jersey has taken a notable step forward with a dynamic tool designed for immediacy: a real-time drug use dashboard.
Introduction In the verdant suburbs and bustling cities of New Jersey, a quiet battle unfolds—one that involves the futures of thousands of adolescents grappling with substance use. While often shrouded in stigma or dismissed as a phase, teen addiction has emerged as a complex public health issue demanding urgent, thoughtful solutions. As the state grapples
Introduction Adolescence is a tumultuous phase marked by profound emotional and social development. Within this period, the influence of peers emerges as a formidable force, shaping behaviors, attitudes, and choices. For parents in New Jersey, grappling with the reality of peer pressure becomes paramount, especially when it intersects with the dangerous terrain of substance use.
Introduction New Jersey’s opioid crisis, like much of the nation’s, is a public health emergency entrenched in layers of bureaucracy and systemic neglect. At the heart of this epidemic lies a devastating truth: while addiction ravages lives indiscriminately, access to treatment remains stubbornly selective. The very systems designed to help—insurance frameworks—often become stumbling blocks for