April 2023 Workshop

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Reality Check:
Telling the Truth About Marijuana/Cannabis

Monday, April 24, 2023, 1:30 pm – 3 pm

Presenters: Debbie Riscica, Perinatal Risk Reduction Coordinator at CJFHC and Jerri Collevechio, Senior Development Director of Prevention Resources, Inc. Safe Communities Coalition

It is a federal crime to possess it…It is legal in New Jersey and many other states to walk into a dispensary and simply purchase it. What to believe? What is Truth? What is Myth? This presentation will focus on the Realities of Marijuana/Cannabis- Past, Present and Future Trajectories. Some of the timely topics to be presented include:

What actually is today’s marijuana/cannabis?

What are its effects upon youth, pregnant women and their children, and the general population at large?

What are the recent changes in NJ State law?

What are current state employment policies?

How is legalization affecting our communities?

What are realistic prevention efforts we can empower to keep our communities safe?

Note: This event has passed

Workshop Presenters

Debbie Riscica BS, OTR, CADC, WTS, CTTS
Perinatal Risk Reduction Coordinator
Central Jersey Family Health Consortium

Debbie began her career as an occupational therapist, with clinical focus on psychiatry and addiction. Once certified as an addiction counselor, Debbie switched from clinical work, to prevention and education. For the past 15 years, she has served as program manager for the Perinatal Addiction Prevention Project at Central Jersey Family Health Consortium. During this time, Debbie has earned certifications as a tobacco treatment specialist, state educator for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and as a women’s treatment specialist. Additionally, as an active member of the Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Debbie serves on the healthcare committee, co-chair for the outreach committee and trained as a healthcare speaker on the topic of Human Trafficking.

Jerri Collevechio, CPS, CTTS
Prevention Resources, Inc.
Safe Communities Coalition

Jerri Collevechio is currently the Senior Development Director, at Prevention Resources. Jerri started her career in prevention in 2008, as a prevention educator and is now the Director of the Safe Communities Coalition in Hunterdon/Somerset County, where most of her time is spent on community level change strategies, collaboration to reduce substance misuse on prescription drugs, alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. Jerri has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, from Kutztown University; is a Certified Prevention Specialist and a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist, a graduate of a 3 week course on the Strategic Prevention Framework, sponsored by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. Jerri is the current Vice Chair, of the Human Services Advisory Council, appointed by the Hunterdon County Commissioners, a 2013 graduate of Leadership Hunterdon, Hunterdon County chamber of Commerce, member of the Municipal Alliance, member of Somerset County Inter-Agency Coordinating Council (CIACC) past member of Crime Stoppers Hunterdon County, and is a volunteer at the Flemington Food Pantry.

Workshop Recording

Resources & Additional Content

Reality Check: Telling the Truth About Marijuana/Cannabis

Reality Check:
Telling the Truth About Marijuana/Cannabis