The statewide opioid epidemic continues to take its toll on New Jersey residents.

So far in 2018, more than 2,000 people in New Jersey have died of drug overdoses, a vast majority of which have been opioid-related. Meanwhile, through the end of July, law enforcement and emergency medical personnel had administered naloxone more than 9,000 times throughout the state.

While advances have been made in the fight against this crisis, there is still work to be done to help protect the health and safety of families and communities around New Jersey.

You can take action on Saturday, October 6, by volunteering for the third annual Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day. The day has a dual focus of educating residents on the risks of prescription opioids and their link to heroin, as well as informing medical providers on responsible prescribing.

Last year, more than 10,000 volunteers participated in the event, distributing vital information on safe prescribing practices to healthcare providers, as well door hangers and other materials to residents in neighborhoods throughout New Jersey. Volunteers also organized events, such as songwriting contests, candlelight vigils and charity walks to spread messages of prevention and recovery.

Volunteers from all over the state once again have organized major outreach efforts for this year’s event. For example, in Morris County, organizations are holding the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Songwriters Scholarship Concert, while high schools in several of the state’s 21 counties are bringing outreach efforts to their athletic contests the weeks leading up to and following Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day.

There are several ways you can get involved as a volunteer. They include distributing door hangers around your neighborhood, among members of your congregation or to your colleagues at work. You can also check in with local businesses, police departments, youth organizations or local volunteer groups to see if they would be willing to help spread information and awareness on the opioid epidemic. While the official day is Saturday, October 6, if there is a more convenient day for you to share this important lifesaving message, please do so then.

Help us to Knock Out Opioid Abuse in New Jersey by signing up to volunteer. Once you do, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey team can help put you in touch with a county/community coordinator to receive materials.

The opioid crisis has impacted all of us, but by working together to educate our fellow New Jersey residents, we can work toward solutions necessary to end this epidemic.