Ocean County Experts and Seniors to Address Opioid Crisis at Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall
WHAT: Ocean County senior residents are invited to join the conversation on the national opioid epidemic as the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey continues its Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall Series. Organized with the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, the series focuses on the link between prescription drug dependency and heroin abuse and examines the causes of the current opioid crisis and possible solutions in addressing the issue. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is a collaborating partner for the Ocean County town hall. The event will feature a panel of speakers that includes experts from law enforcement, government, the medical community and the prevention and treatment fields. “All residents of New Jersey are encouraged to join the conversation and participate in their local Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall to understand the disease of addiction, develop strategies to help protect their families and identify resources to address individuals who have become dependent on prescription drugs or are abusing heroin,” said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.
WHY: Every day, an average of 144 people in the United States die from an opioid overdose, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. In New Jersey, an estimated 2,000 people died of an opioid overdose in 2016.
WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, November 2, 2017 (Doors open at 9:30 a.m.)
WHERE: Greenbriar 1 Residential Complex, 1 Darley Circle, Brick, NJ 08724
FOR MORE INFORMATION: A dedicated website, knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org, has been created to provide a full schedule of countywide town hall meetings and registration information. Knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org also will provide local, county and state substance abuse prevention and treatment resources available.
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Best known for its statewide anti-drug advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $70 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 166 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.