The Center for Prevention & Counseling

04/29/2026

🚨Drug deaths for teens ages 13-17 grew by 56% from 2019-2024; nearly 5x faster than the general population.

🚨One pill can kill, one time, within minutes.

🚨1 in 10 teens say they've used a prescription drug without a prescription or considered it.

🚨Nearly half of teens haven't heard about the dangers of fake prescription pills.

🚨As little as 3 grains of salt worth of fentanyl can kill you.
Fake pills are being manufactures with fentanyl and you can't tell them apart.

🚨Fentapills - You Need to Know” is a 4-minute video intended for middle school and high school students, parents, and educators. This video goes over the basics and most critical facts and statistics regarding the fentanyl.

Education is the best prevention! Please share - the more people who learn about "Fentapills" the more lives can be saved. Remember, one pill can kill.

Produced by Song for Charlie, "Fentapills - You Need to Know” is a 4-minute video intended for middle school and high school students, parents, and educators...

04/29/2026

Awareness is our best defense. Today is National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, and we need to talk about a reality that’s hitting close to home.

The risk is real:
Many teens are still unaware that fake prescription pills sold on social media, at the mall, or through friends are often made with fentanyl. These "fakes" look identical to real prescriptions like Adderall or Xanax, but they are incredibly dangerous. In fact, 70% of teen drug deaths now involve fentanyl. ⚖️

Athletes are targets:
Young athletes can be particularly at risk. Between the pressure to perform and the reality of sports injuries, the temptation to find "quick relief" through a non-prescribed pill is a dangerous trap.

How we can take action together:

Talk to your family: Knowledge is a superpower. Make sure kids and athletes know that "no random pills" is the only safe way.

Get trained: We offer free monthly Narcan trainings at The Center. Being prepared to save a life is one of the best things you can do for your community. (Check out our previous post for info on the next training this Friday 5/1)

Get the tools: Narcan and Fentanyl Test Strips are available for free at our Spring Street Harm Reduction Center, in our community boxes, and in our 24/7 vending machines in Hopatcong, Vernon, Newton, Wantage, and Branchville.

Prevention is about staying informed and looking out for one another.

04/28/2026

💐Flowers are nice. 🥐Brunch is… fine.

But this year? Give Mom something she’ll actually remember. 🌟🌟

An evening out. Good food. A full table. No dishes. No hosting. Just showing up and being taken care of.

Our Beefsteak Dinner is one of those nights—simple, fun, a little nostalgic, and genuinely good. And it supports two local nonprofits doing meaningful work right here in Sussex County.

If your mom loves a good meal and good company… this is it.

🎟 Grab tickets: link in comments

04/28/2026

No matter where you are or what you’re going through, you deserve safety, care, and compassion. Carrying naloxone is a simple way to protect yourself and others and it can save a life in an emergency. Checking in on the people around you and looking out for one another can make all the difference. Overdose prevention is about community, connection, and keeping each other alive.

❗You matter.
❗Your life matters.
❗Carry naloxone and check in on the people around you.

Need supplies or have a question?
Spring Street Harm Reduction Center 24/7 Helpline: 844-722-5327 (Call or Text)

04/27/2026

Mission-Ready for a Healthy Future: Starts This Wednesday!

​If you are a Veteran or a spouse looking for a space to connect with others who understand the unique experiences of military life, please join us for WISE for Vets. This 6-week series is designed to empower you with practical tools for healthy aging in a relaxed, interactive environment.

​Led by Peers: This program is co-facilitated by a U.S. Veteran, ensuring the conversation is grounded in shared experience and mutual respect.

​Practical Value: Gain new strategies for medication safety, stress management, and navigating local resources.

​Included Perks: Enjoy a complimentary lunch at every session and receive a $25 gift card for attending 5 or more sessions.

​When: Wednesdays from 2:00 – 4:00 pm, beginning April 29.

​Where: Sparta’s Walter Lynch Senior Center (40 Trapasso Dr.).

​Secure your spot for Wednesday’s kickoff:

Call or email Meg
☎️ 908-747-1179
📧 Meg@centerforprevention.org

04/27/2026

Understanding the "why" changes how we help.🧠

If you’ve ever wondered why it’s so hard for someone to just "stop" using, this quick video explainer is a must-watch. It walks through how addiction can actually "hijack" the brain’s survival system, the same part that tells us to eat or drink water.

At The Center for Prevention and Counseling, we know that seeing addiction through a health lens is a gamechanger. It’s also exactly why our prevention work is so vital. By understanding how a developing brain is wired, we can build better "protective factors" for our youth, helping them stay healthy and resilient before the "hijacker" ever has a chance to take hold. 🕊️✨

When we understand the science, we can replace judgment with empathy and find more effective ways to support our neighbors, families, and the next generation here in Sussex County.

Take a few minutes to watch and let us know: Does seeing the science change how you think about prevention and recovery? 👇

52 likes. "What is Addiction?"

04/24/2026

We had a great time Wednesday visiting Professor Dawn Flanders’ Criminal Justice class at Sussex County Community College!

Our team, Katie Walker and Olivia Westling, got to chat with the next generation of law enforcement about how policing is evolving. They shared how our Sussex County CLEAR Program and Operation Helping Hand partnerships with the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office are helping officers become partners in recovery. Plus, Olivia introduced the class to our new Medical Legal Program and counseling services.

Huge thanks to Assistant Professor Dawn Flanders at SCCC for the invite—we love connecting with future pros who are ready to make a difference in Sussex County!

Hand

04/23/2026

Your brain is the engine behind everything you love and, just like your car, it may need it a little tune-up.

It’s easy to overlook brain health until we feel "foggy," but the small choices we make today are what keep us independent and sharp down the road.

The best part? You don't have to change everything at once. Whether it’s a quick text to a friend, chat with your doctor about your prescriptions, or drinking an extra glass of water, every little bit counts.

Take a quick swipe to see the basics of brain health. 🧠

Which one are you picking for your "Small Win" this week?

04/21/2026

✨ Incredibly honored, deeply humbled, and filled with gratitude!

Today, at the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce Toast to the Stars Awards Luncheon, The Center for Prevention and Counseling was beyond proud to accept the award for Outstanding Community Event of the Year for our annual Changing the Face of Addiction Recovery Walk! 🏆

While a few of us were there to accept the trophy, this recognition belongs to our entire dedicated staff. It belongs all CFPC team members who weren't in this photo but are "on the ground" every day doing the heart-work that makes an event like this possible.

This award also belongs to the individuals in recovery who inspire us, the families who walk in beautiful remembrance, and every community partner—from our local businesses and law enforcement to our healthcare heroes—who sponsor and show up to prove that recovery is possible.

What started 12 years ago as a vision from two mothers, Elaine Tizzano and Mary Burns, has grown into a movement that proves when we change the way we look at addiction, we change the way we support our neighbors.

Thank you to the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce for this honor, and a special, heartfelt thank you to our "secret nominator." Knowing someone in our community took the time to champion our mission means the world to us!

Congratulations to our fellow award winners and nominees! You all make this community so very special!

Join the "Outstanding" tradition! We invite you to walk with us as we celebrate this milestone year. Mark your calendars for our 12th Annual Changing the Face of Addiction Recovery Walk on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at the Franklin Firemen’s Memorial Pavilion.

Join us in keeping hope moving forward, together—see you in August! 👟👟

04/17/2026

📣New All Recovery Meeting in Sussex on Mondays! 💜

We have started a new All Recovery meeting at our Sussex Satellite office! All Recovery Meetings are discussion groups based on universal recovery topics.

They are open to anyone who is challenged by addiction, affected by someone else’s addiction and to supporters of recovery in general. All Recovery meetings bring people together from various pathways of recovery to share and learn from one another.

Please join us from 10:30-11:30 PM at Norwescap - Sussex Borough Community & Cultural Center (37-45 Main Street, Sussex, NJ 07461)

For more information, call 973-940-2966 or marjorie@centerforprevention.org.

04/16/2026

🎬 And the winner is...✨

We are so excited to officially announce the video winner of our 26th Annual Alcohol Awareness Month PSA Contest: Achieving My Dreams Alcohol-Free! A huge congratulations to Evie R. from Sussex County Technical School! 🥳🏆

Evie’s video entry blew us away with its honesty and powerful storytelling. It captures the reality of how choices can impact our dreams, our focus, and our futures—but also reminds us that staying on track for our goals is worth it. 🕊️

Watch her winning video below!

We are so proud of Evie and all the students who shared their creativity and their voices with us during the contest this year. It’s a beautiful reminder that our youth have a lot to say about building a healthy, vibrant future in Sussex County.

Speaking of youth having a lot to say about building a healthy, vibrant future... be sure to look for the next issue of RISE Magazine rolling out in early June!

Let’s show Evie some love in the comments! 👏🎉

04/15/2026

Check out our Mindfulness Walk every Monday at 3pm!