Wellspring Center for Prevention

03/09/2026

New strategies are emerging to address overdose and connect people with support. New Jersey is expanding harm reduction programs that help prevent overdoses and link individuals to health services, while new technologies are being developed to detect overdose risk and improve outreach.

These developments show how prevention, treatment, and innovation are working together to strengthen public health responses.

Read more:

Email from Wellspring Center for Prevention Get the latest updates on addiction prevention. Prevention Pulse Promoting healthier communities. Brought to you by Wellspring Center for Prevention. March

03/06/2026

Peer pressure no longer stops at the school doors. Social media can amplify comparison, risky challenges, and pressure to fit in, often without parents realizing it.

Wellspring’s latest blog explores how digital peer pressure influences youth behavior and mental health, and offers practical strategies families can use to support healthier online habits and stronger decision-making.

Digital peer pressure doesn’t stop when kids go home. Learn how social media, group chats, and online trends influence teen decision-making and how parents can support healthy choices.

03/05/2026

Last chance to register.

Wellspring Center for Prevention’s Mandatory Legal Standards training helps CADCs, LCADCs, and other prevention professionals earn initial or renewal credits by reviewing the legal and ethical responsibilities that guide everyday practice. Participants leave with a clearer understanding and practical confidence in applying the required standards.

Registration closes soon.

Secure your spot:

Join our Legal Standards course for L/CADCs in NJ covering law changes, telehealth, and more.

03/03/2026

Open and consistent family communication is one of the strongest protective factors in prevention. When parents and caregivers talk regularly with children about expectations, values, and healthy decision-making, young people are better equipped to navigate peer pressure and risky situations.

Wellspring’s latest blog explores how family communication reduces risky behavior and offers practical strategies families can use every day. https://wellspringprevention.org/blog/family-communication-reduces-risky-behavior/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

Strong family communication helps teens pause, ask for help, and make safer choices. Learn how trust, connection, and everyday conversations reduce risky behavior.

03/02/2026

The U.S. drug overdose crisis is evolving into a polydrug era, with fentanyl increasingly found mixed with other substances, complicating prevention and treatment efforts. A recent national analysis also shows that opioid overdose death rates vary widely by state and demographic group, highlighting ongoing disparities in risk and outcomes. Stay informed and explore strategies to prevent overdose and support recovery.

Read more:

Email from Wellspring Center for Prevention Get the latest updates on addiction prevention. Prevention Pulse Promoting healthier communities. Brought to you by Wellspring Center for Prevention. Februa

02/26/2026

Wellspring Center for Prevention is offering a Mandatory Legal Standards training designed for CPSs, CADCs, LCADCs, and other professionals earning initial or renewal credits. This course breaks down the legal responsibilities, ethical boundaries, and documentation requirements that shape everyday prevention and counseling work.

Clear standards protect your clients and your credentials.

Register here:

Join our Legal Standards course for L/CADCs in NJ covering law changes, telehealth, and more.

02/25/2026

Prevention works best when it starts early. Research highlighted in the Return on Investment of Substance Use Prevention report shows that early, evidence-based prevention programs help reduce substance misuse, improve academic outcomes, and lower long-term costs tied to healthcare, education, and justice systems. Investing in prevention today builds healthier pathways that benefit individuals, families, and entire communities over time.

Learn more:https://pttcnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024.09.27_PTTC_Return-on-Investment_FINAL.pdf

02/24/2026

Teen va**ng continues to be a concern for families and schools across New Jersey, but prevention does not always start with adults. In Piscataway, high school students launched S.T.A.A.N.D., a youth-led initiative focused on raising awareness about the risks of ni****ne and substance use among their peers.

Through community outreach, educational events, and collaboration with Wellspring Center for Prevention, these students are proving that youth leadership can make a real impact. Prevention works best when young people feel informed, supported, and empowered to make healthy decisions.

Learn how this student-led effort is strengthening teen va**ng prevention in our community:

Piscataway High School seniors launched S.T.A.A.N.D. to raise awareness about teen va**ng and substance use. Learn how student-led prevention is making an impact in the community.

02/23/2026

The FDA is fast-tracking a new rapid test to help detect xylazine in the drug supply, while advocates in New Jersey are warning that insufficient behavioral health funding could lead to higher costs down the road.

This week’s Prevention Pulse breaks down what these developments could mean for overdose prevention, treatment access, and community health.

Read more:

Email from Wellspring Center for Prevention Get the latest updates on addiction prevention. Prevention Pulse Promoting healthier communities. Brought to you by Wellspring Center for Prevention. Februa

02/20/2026

Prevention is not just about reducing risk. It is also about strengthening what protects.

Protective factors such as positive family relationships, school connection, supportive mentors, and healthy coping skills help young people make safer choices and navigate challenges with resilience. When communities intentionally build these supports, they create environments where youth can thrive.

Learn how protective factors shape prevention and why they matter at every stage of development:

Protective factors are the skills, relationships, and environments that help young people make healthy choices. Learn why prevention starts before a crisis.

02/18/2026

New Jersey represents just over 2 percent of the U.S. population, yet 2.77 percent of all overdose deaths nationwide occur in our state. This disproportionate impact highlights why prevention, education, and community-based support remain essential.

Understanding where New Jersey fits into the national picture helps guide smarter prevention efforts and stronger local responses that save lives.

Learn more: https://drugabusestatistics.org/drug-overdose-deaths/

The number of deaths per year from accidental drug overdose, including methadone, co***ne, fentanyl & other prescription drugs.

02/17/2026

Last chance to register.

Prevention and recovery work intersect every day in the field. Understanding how addiction and recovery frameworks connect strengthens client engagement, communication, and long-term outcomes.

Wellspring Center for Prevention is offering this CADC continuing education course for professionals earning initial or renewal credits. If you still need CEUs or want to deepen your recovery-oriented knowledge, now is the time to secure your spot.

Register here:

Earn 6 CEUs with Wellspring’s virtual renewal training, What is Addiction Recovery?, led by instructor Alan Shapiro. Explore addiction as a brain disease, the stages of recovery, and how health, wellness, and quality of life extend beyond abstinence to true recovery of mind, body, and spirit.