The Substance Use Referral & Education (SURE) program was developed by the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County, Prevention First, Youth Services Commission, and other key community stakeholders as a resource for youth and families to find support for underage substance use challenges.
SURE staff members provide linkage and referral to assessments, treatment, and other applicable community resources based on the family’s needs.
Eligibility
The Substance Use Referral & Education (SURE) program is available to Monmouth County youth and families.
Not a Monmouth County resident? Refer to the state website for counseling and other resources.
To access services, contact our SURE program coordinator:
Ashley Lynn
[email protected]
(732) 542-6422 ext. 111
SURE Hotline
(732) 542-6422 ext. 114
FAQs
I just received a fact card from a police officer. What does this mean?
- Governor Murphy signed legislation in February 2021 regarding recreational marijuana use for adults over the age of 21 in the State of New Jersey. Under this law, police officers are required to follow guidelines when interacting with someone who is under the age of 21 and using marijuana:
- 1st violation: Police officers may provide a written warning and are allowed to notify the parents/guardians of a child under 18 who is caught with marijuana or alcohol.
- 2nd violation: Police officers may provide a written warning, notify parents/guardians of a child under 18, and provide information and materials on social services.
- 3rd or subsequent violation: Police officers may provide a written warning, notify parents/guardians of a child under 18, provide information and materials on social services, with a referral to these social service organizations. Pursuant to interim guidance from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office for local police departments, the officer shall provide notice of the written warning and referral to the community treatment services program, regardless of the age of the individual.
- In response to this legislation, the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County, Prevention First, the Youth Services Commission, and other community stakeholders worked collaboratively with the DART Prevention Coalition to develop a fact card with resources and information to provide youth and families with the supports around underage substance use. The SURE Hotline offers a way to navigate any questions that arise and ensure you are connected to the appropriate resources. Click here for more information on New Jersey’s legislation regarding marijuana.
What is the big fuss about underage marijuana use?
- The human brain does not fully develop until the age of 25. When you start using a chemical substance like marijuana, it can negatively impact your brain development. Teens who use marijuana regularly may experience difficulty thinking, problems with memory, and a lower IQ. Some people perceive using marijuana can alleviate anxiety, but it can actually increase depression, paranoia, and induce psychosis. Using marijuana may lower your inhibitions, problem solving abilities, and harm your decision making. This can lead to risky situations such as reckless driving, sexual encounters, and exposure to other harmful substances. For more information, visit:
New Jersey legalized marijuana. Isn't it harmless?
- Marijuana is not a harmless drug. In fact, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines cannabis use disorder as a medical condition. Some warning signs that you may have a marijuana addiction include not being able to stop using marijuana (even though you want to), doing dangerous things to access or use marijuana, continuing to use marijuana in spite of relationship, legal, financial, health, or other issues, and feeling like you need marijuana to feel normal.
Is driving while "high" illegal? My friends tell me they drive better than they are.
- “Marijuana significantly impairs judgement, motor coordination, and reaction time,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Marijuana makes drivers worse at mindless tasks like staying in a lane, while alcohol undermines behaviors that require more attention like yielding to pedestrians or taking note of stop signs. Research studies have shown negative effects of marijuana on drivers, including an increase in lane weaving, poor reaction time, and altered attention to the road. Use of alcohol with marijuana makes drivers more impaired, causing even more lane weaving. Do not believe your friends when they tell you they drive better. Click here for more information.
What is marijuana concentrate?
- A marijuana concentrate is a highly concentrated and potent THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) mass, the psychoactive component of marijuana. Marijuana concentrates are often consumed through vaping (in the form of a liquid), dabbing, or ingesting edibles (e.g., brownies, cookies, gummy products that contain THC). Using marijuana concentrates may cause serious and intense effects that put the user at risk.
- According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Marijuana potency, as detected in confiscated samples, has steadily increased over the past few decades. In the early 1990s, the average THC content in confiscated marijuana samples was less than 4%. In 2018, it was more than 15%. Marijuana concentrates can have much higher levels of THC. The increasing potency of marijuana, combined with the use of high-THC concentrates, raises concerns that the consequences of marijuana use today could be worse than in the past, particularly among those who are new to marijuana use and in young people, whose brains are still developing.” Click here for more information.
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106 Apple Street, Suite 110
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724Phone (732) 542-6422
Fax (732) 542-2477
- Governor Murphy signed legislation in February 2021 regarding recreational marijuana use for adults over the age of 21 in the State of New Jersey. Under this law, police officers are required to follow guidelines when interacting with someone who is under the age of 21 and using marijuana: