West Milford, NJ
Obituaries
West Milford Mom Mourning Daughter Reveals Addiction's Impact On Family West Milford Mom Mourning Daughter Reveals Addiction's Impact On Family
West Milford Mom Mourning Daughter Reveals Addiction's Impact On Family The mother of a 23-year-old Bloomingdale girl who passed away after several years of battling addiction is raising awareness toward the disease that took her daughter's life. Ashley Breeze was giving sobriety one last shot. Her reasons to keep fighting were her two kids, Ralph and Isabella. "She had been working so hard to get her life together for them," Breeze's mom Caroline Denaro of West Milford said. "She had gone through three different detox programs and had been taking various parenting and life courses. She had been clean for some time now." But Breeze died s…

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by Cecilia Levine
Mount Pleasant, NY
Obituaries
Michael A. Ruggiero Of Westchester Dies At 33 Michael A. Ruggiero Of Westchester Dies At 33
Michael A. Ruggiero Of Westchester Dies At 33 Michael A. Ruggiero, Jr., a lifelong resident of Yonkers died suddenly on Sunday, April 29, after a long battle with addiction. He was 33 years old. Michael is survived by his wife, Nicola "Nikki," his parents, Michael & Eileen (nee Mahedy); his loving siblings, Andrew and Andrea and his adoring grandmother, Peggy Mahedy. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Michael's name to St. Jude's Children's Hospital – www.stjude.org. The family will be present on Tuesday, May 1 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at F. Ruggiero & Sons, Inc. at 732 Yonkers Ave. in Yonkers. A fun…

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by Daily Voice
Northern Highlands, NJ
Schools
USRA Coalition: Doctors To Warn Northern Highlands Parents Of Opioid Danger USRA Coalition: Doctors To Warn Northern Highlands Parents Of Opioid Danger
Usra Coalition: Doctors To Warn Northern Highlands Parents Of Opioid Danger ALLENDALE, N.J. -- Addiction doesn't always begin at a party -- it could start in the family medicine chest. Experts will tell parents what to consider before their teens have surgery or treatment for chronic pain during a "Physician's Perspective on Drugs and Opiods" at Northern Highlands Regional High School later this month. Sponsored by the Upper Saddle River/Allendale Coalition, the boards of health from each town and Hackensack University Medical Center, the free April 25 event features panelists: Michael Kelly, the chairman of orthopedic surgery at Hackensack University M…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Northern Highlands, NJ
Events
Allendale Woman's Club Fashion Show To Help Struggling Moms, Children Allendale Woman's Club Fashion Show To Help Struggling Moms, Children
Allendale Woman's Club Fashion Show To Help Struggling Moms, Children ALLENDALE, N.J. -- Mothers and their children who are struggling with homelessness, hunger and addiction will benefit from a special fashion show coordinated by The Allendale Woman’s Club. The AWC, which supports various charitable initiatives, chose the Hope Residence for Mothers with Children at Eva's Village in Paterson for its 2018 "Ladies Night Out Fashion Show Benefit: Design for Recovery" on April 24 at Seasons restaurant in Washington Township. Guests will be treated to a gourmet cocktail hour, basket raffles, sit-down dinner, fashion show by Fig Leaf Boutique (Maywood) an…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Hackensack, NJ
News
OBGYN: Babies Being Born Addicted To Opioids Hits Highs In New Jersey OBGYN: Babies Being Born Addicted To Opioids Hits Highs In New Jersey
Obgyn: Babies Being Born Addicted To Opioids Hits Highs In New Jersey Every 15 minutes a baby in the U.S. is born withdrawal symptoms due to pre-birth exposure to opioids, according to a new study. Bergen County is following the same trend as the rest of the nation, Holy Name Medical Center OB-GYN Department Director Payal Shah says. Babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) -- a drug withdrawal syndrome that some experience infants shortly after birth -- has worsened by nearly fivefold from 2004 to 2014, according to a new analysis of Medicaid data. NAS is a problem that nearly every hospital is dealing with, the physician said. "You think i…

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by Cecilia Levine
Newburgh, NY
News
NARCAN Training Session Scheduled In New Windsor NARCAN Training Session Scheduled In New Windsor
Narcan Training Session Scheduled In New Windsor Do you know anyone with addiction problems? Painkillers and heroin are now the leading cause of accidental deaths.  There is an antidote that can reverse the deadly effects of an opioid overdose. The Town of New Windsor is proud to host free NARCAN training for the community on Tuesday, April 24. With the help of a federal grant through a partnership with the state, at no cost to taxpayers or attendees, the Town of New Windsor is urging all members of the public to participate in this critical free NARCAN training. The training will run from 6 to 7 p.m. on April 24 at New Windsor Communit…

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by Daily Voice
Mahwah-Ramsey, NJ
Schools
Ramapo To Offer Special Housing, Supports To Students In Addiction Recovery Ramapo To Offer Special Housing, Supports To Students In Addiction Recovery
Ramapo To Offer Special Housing, Supports To Students In Addiction Recovery MAHWAH, N.J. – Students recovering from drug or alcohol addiction will soon have a safe place to turn at Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah. The college received a nearly $1 million state grant to fund a new program that will include recovery housing for up to 10 students and resources such as screening and intervention services, access to confidential psychological and addiction counseling services and substance-free activities. “With access to a recovery program and recovery housing, our recovering students will find structure, direction, and self-awareness while working to maintain a…

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by Lauren Kidd Ferguson
Paterson, NJ
Obituaries
Family Mourning Wayne Mom-To-Be, 20, Reveals Harsh Truths Of Addiction Family Mourning Wayne Mom-To-Be, 20, Reveals Harsh Truths Of Addiction
Family Mourning Wayne Mom-To-Be, 20, Reveals Harsh Truths Of Addiction WAYNE, N.J. — The family mourning the loss of a 20-year-old Wayne mom-to-be is shedding light on the addiction epidemic that tragically took her life. "For those struggling with addiction or a family member of an addict: addiction is a family disease," the family wrote on Justyna Dolegowski's obituary.  She died on Jan. 16, six months pregnant with her baby. "One person may use, but the whole family suffers. Heroin will kidnap you, raise you, take your soul and return only your body to your family." Justyna Dolegowski died on Jan. 16, six months pregnant with her baby.…

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by Cecilia Levine