The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey

What The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey does

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1992 and headquartered in Millburn, New Jersey, that delivers statewide substance use prevention education with an emphasis on opioid and prescription drug misuse. It operates a diversified portfolio of programs spanning five core audiences: K-12 students (annual music competition Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs, Middle School PSA Challenge, Fourth Grade Folder Contest, Third Grade Coloring & Activity Book), healthcare prescribers (Do No Harm Symposium CME, Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series), parents and families (15 Minute Child Break, TalkNowNJ.com), New Jersey employers (Drugs Don't Work in NJ workplace training), and older adults (Healthy Aging Campaign, NJ Healthy Aging Summit). Distribution reaches all 3,500+ New Jersey schools, 900+ pharmacies, and 220+ medication disposal sites, with the 1,000+ prescribers educated via CME.

PDFNJ's go-to-market is community-led, relying on coalitions with state government (Governor's Council on Substance Use Disorders, NJ DMHAS, NJ CARES, NJ Attorney General's Office), corporate and foundation funders (PSEG Foundation, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, The Horizon Foundation, Vertex Pharmaceuticals), professional associations (NJSIAA, NJ Broadcasters Association), and individual ambassadors (former NFL quarterback Ray Lucas). The organization does not sell products or charge fees; all programming is provided free of charge, and revenue is sourced from grants, corporate sponsorships, and foundation support. It does not operate proprietary technology platforms — its technology footprint consists of informational websites (drugfreenj.org, knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org, talknownj.com, njhealthyaging.com), social media channels, and webinar delivery infrastructure.

PDFNJ has played an advocacy role in shaping state policy, including contributing to the 2017 NJ Patient Notification Act (later adopted by 18+ states) and testifying in support of NJ Bill A1821 (2026) on insurance coverage of non-opioid pain medications. It receives ongoing recognition from the NJ Ad Club (multiple Jersey Awards including 2024 and 2025 first-place awards) and the National Association of Government Communicators. Leadership comprises Executive Director Angelo Valente (since 1992), Chair Elaine Pozycki, and Director of Opioid Response and Prevention Angela Conover.

Name

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey

Legal name

Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey

Website

https://drugfreenj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a non-profit founded in 1992 that delivers statewide substance use prevention education across New Jersey, serving K-12 students, families, healthcare prescribers, employers, and older adults through free programs, campaigns, and CME training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Substance Abuse Prevention Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Educational Support Services (611710)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Lifestyle Education (Non-clinical) (EDAAAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use, Addiction & Harm Reduction Health Departments (HLAJAAAM), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Pharmacovigilance, Medication Safety & Controlled Substance Diversion Monitoring (HLAFALAN)

Keywords

• Substance abuse prevention
• Opioid education programs
• Youth drug prevention
• Prescriber education
• Community health initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Millburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: PDFNJ receives support from foundations and corporate partners including PSEG Foundation, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals to fund prevention programs and educational materials.
2. Government Partnerships: Partnership operates in cooperation with the Governor's Council on Substance Use Disorders and NJ Department of Human Services, suggesting government funding support for statewide initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PDFNJ is a nonprofit public health organization that delivers free substance use prevention education and awareness programs across New Jersey. Its core offerings include statewide awareness campaigns (notably Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day), youth engagement competitions (Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs, Middle School PSA Challenge, Fourth Grade Folder Contest), healthcare provider continuing medical education on safe opioid prescribing, workplace drug-free policy training for employers, parent and family education resources, and senior-focused healthy aging initiatives.

Product overview

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey operates as a public health education organization offering a diverse portfolio of substance use prevention programs rather than a unified software product. Its offerings include youth-focused competitions and campaigns (Your Song! Your Voice!, Middle School PSA Challenge, Fourth Grade Folder Contest), opioid-specific initiatives (Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day, Learning Series, Student Athlete Initiative), workplace programs (Drugs Don't Work in NJ), healthcare provider education (Do No Harm Symposium/CME), and community resources (TalkNowNJ.com, Drug Encyclopedia, 15 Minute Child Break). The organization also runs special populations initiatives including the Healthy Aging Campaign targeting seniors. All offerings are educational/preventive services rather than technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day: Annual statewide initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription opioid misuse and fentanyl.
• Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs
• Middle School PSA Challenge
• Fun Things to Do Instead of Drugs
• Do No Harm Symposium
• Drugs Don't Work in NJ
• American Medicine Chest Challenge
• Healthy Aging Campaign

Products and services

• Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Annual statewide awareness initiative mobilizing communities to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription opioid misuse and the link to heroin use, featuring volunteer outreach, educational materials, and town halls. Targeted at New Jersey residents, healthcare providers, and community organizations.
• Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs Annual statewide high school music competition where students compose original songs with substance use prevention messages; winners receive music contracts and their songs are featured in statewide prevention campaigns. Targeted at New Jersey high school students.
• Do No Harm Symposium / Prescriber Education CME CME-accredited program providing healthcare providers with education on safe opioid prescribing practices and non-opioid pain management alternatives, satisfying New Jersey's one-hour CME requirement concerning prescription opioids. Targeted at doctors, dentists, and other NJ prescribers.
• Drugs Don't Work in NJ Workplace prevention initiative providing free training and resources to help New Jersey small and mid-sized businesses create drug-free workplace policies, including guidance on marijuana legalization impacts. Targeted at NJ employers and HR leaders.
• Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series Series of educational webinars addressing aspects of the opioid crisis including synthetic opioids, healthy aging, racial disparities, and treatment options. Targeted at healthcare providers, community members, and professionals across New Jersey.
• TalkNowNJ.com Online resource providing signs and symptoms information and a media toolkit to help New Jersey parents and caregivers recognize and respond to substance use. Targeted at parents, caregivers, and community members.
• Healthy Aging Campaign Statewide initiative providing age-specific opioid safety education and resources for older adults, caregivers, and healthcare professionals serving the aging population. Targeted at New Jersey seniors, family caregivers, and aging-services providers.
• 15 Minute Child Break Parent education resource providing guidance on how to discuss substance use prevention with children. Targeted at New Jersey parents and caregivers.
• Drug Encyclopedia Online educational resource providing information about various drugs including alcohol, opioids, marijuana, stimulants, vaping, and other substances. Targeted at New Jersey families, students, and community members.
• Middle School PSA Challenge Video competition for 5th-8th grade students to create public service announcements about substance use prevention, with winning videos featured on PDFNJ's social media platforms. Targeted at New Jersey middle school students.
• Fourth Grade Folder Contest / Fun Things to Do Instead of Drugs Annual art contest for 4th graders to create artwork promoting drug-free lifestyles, with winning designs printed on folders distributed to classrooms across New Jersey. Targeted at New Jersey elementary school students and teachers.
• American Medicine Chest Challenge Annual statewide day of awareness promoting safe disposal of prescription drugs and family involvement in preventing prescription drug misuse. Targeted at New Jersey families and the general public.
• Third Grade Life Choices Coloring & Activity Book Educational coloring and activity book for 3rd grade students promoting healthy lifestyle choices and substance use prevention, distributed statewide through partnership with the PSEG Foundation. Targeted at New Jersey third grade students and teachers.
• NJ Healthy Aging Summit Annual in-person summit addressing opioid safety and pain management alternatives for older adults, bringing together healthcare professionals, social service providers, and community leaders. Targeted at New Jersey aging-services providers and advocates.
• Knock Out Opioid Abuse Student Athlete Initiative Educational initiative targeting high school student-athletes about the risks of prescription opioid misuse and addiction, delivered in partnership with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Targeted at New Jersey high school student-athletes and coaches.

Quantifiable outcome

• NJ overdose deaths dropped to lowest level in five years in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Vertex PharmaceuticalssupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 December 2025Vertex Pharmaceuticals provided support for the Healthy Aging campaign addressing opioid risks among seniors in New Jersey, funding educational video content for the initiative.
• PSEG FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing partnership supporting Third Grade Life Choices Coloring & Activity Book distribution. Has distributed books to 25,000-40,000 third graders annually across New Jersey schools. Multiple year collaboration.
• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New JerseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partner supporting Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day, prescriber education, youth athlete initiatives, and Angel of Hope Gala. Co-develops educational programs and receives Angel of Hope Award recognition.
• New Jersey Department of Human Services / DMHAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner for substance use prevention initiatives. Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services collaborates on Healthy Aging campaign and statewide prevention programs.
• Governor's Council on Substance Use DisorderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState council working with PDFNJ on statewide prevention initiatives, including Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day and substance abuse awareness campaigns.
• Opioid Education Foundation of America (OEFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series, prescriber education, and opioid prevention webinar programs.
• NJ CARES (Office of the NJ Coordinator for Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership for Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series. NJ CARES oversees addiction-fighting efforts across the NJ Office of the Attorney General.
• New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to educate student-athletes about opioid risks associated with sports injuries through Knock Out Opioid Abuse Student Athlete Initiative.
• Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on 2026 Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series focusing on synthetic opioids and other prevention topics.
• New Jersey Broadcasters AssociationsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedia partner supporting Shout Down Drugs music competition and campaign awareness through radio and TV broadcast partnerships.
• Ocean County Prosecutor's OfficesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal law enforcement partnership providing opioid prescribing education scholarships to healthcare providers in Ocean County.
• Former NFL Quarterback Ray LucassupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic ambassador sharing personal story of opioid addiction and recovery at schools and events statewide to educate student-athletes about prescription opioid risks.
• The Horizon Foundation for New JerseycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner supporting parent education programs and Healthy Aging Summit on Opioid Safety, providing critical funding for prevention initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/drugfreenj
• Facebookfacebook.com/DrugFreeNJ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pdfnj
• Instagraminstagram.com/drugfreenj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey