Prevention educator Lori Gondazy warns parents about vaping, fentanyl and high-potency THC at Hunterdon Central

Lori Gondazy, prevention education coordinator for the nonprofit Prevention Resources, told parents and community members at Hunterdon Central Regional High School District that vaping, high-potency THC products and fentanyl in counterfeit pills are growing risks to teenagers and urged families to use prevention tools and New Jersey’s Good Samaritan protections.

Gondazy opened by describing the nonprofit’s school-based programs and said the group presents evidence-based prevention curriculum across Clifton County from second grade through high school. "Alcohol is actually the most used substance in Hunter County and it's easily accessible," she said, adding that when teens drink they often binge — which research defines as roughly five or more drinks for adult males or four or more for adult females in a short period.

She said the adolescent brain is still developing until about age 25 and that alcohol and other drugs can cause long-term effects on decision-making, learning and memory. Gondazy warned that many vaping products contain thousands of aerosol ingredients including metals and nicotine, and cautioned that products labeled "nicotine-free" sometimes still contain nicotine. "Nicotine can affect a huge developing brain," she said, and described diacetyl — a flavoring chemical — as linked to serious lung damage.

On cannabis, Gondazy said THC levels in some modern products are far higher than in previous decades, and she cautioned that edibles’ delayed onset can lead users to take too much and require emergency care. She highlighted that many cannabis products and edibles use packaging resembling candy, increasing the risk of accidental ingestion.

Turning to opioids, Gondazy described fentanyl as a powerful synthetic opioid that dealers increasingly press into counterfeit pills. She cited law-enforcement testing and said many counterfeit pills now contain fentanyl; "all it takes is 2 milligrams," she said, "which is the tip of a pencil point," to deliver a potentially lethal dose.

Gondazy also described other substances parents should know about — kratom, kava, concentrated caffeine products, nitrous oxide used recreationally, and synthetic cannabinoids marketed under names such as K2 or Spice — and warned that products sold as supplements or cognitive enhancers may contain unlisted, dangerous mixtures.

She reviewed current state rules and protections: she said there are four consumption rooms currently in New Jersey and that under a recent state rule unregulated THC products not sold in Cannabis Regulatory Commission–regulated dispensaries must be removed from store shelves by April 13 (federal action was noted as scheduled for November 2026). She also outlined two New Jersey protections intended to encourage life-saving calls to 911: the state’s 911 lifeline legislation for alcohol-related medical emergencies and the New Jersey Overdose Prevention Act, which protect callers who contact authorities, stay with the person in crisis and speak to responding officers from certain arrests for possession or underage-alcohol offenses.

Gondazy closed by urging parents to keep open, honest conversations with children about substances, noting that students whose parents discuss alcohol and drugs are substantially less likely to use them. She offered a parent toolkit and displayed examples of products that can resemble candy or household items to help caregivers recognize risky packaging.

Next steps: Gondazy invited attendees to review materials and speak with Prevention Resources staff for additional resources and program sign-ups.