I want to encourage individuals and community agencies to participate in National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5. This annual event has taken place for decades to provide a friendly neighborhood environment for families to come out for a good time. It also provides residents the opportunity to strengthen relationships among neighbors, law enforcement and other groups and organizations interested in promoting the health and safety of their communities.  Many municipal law enforcement officers will be hosting cookouts, block parties and other community-based events.

The event also gives me the opportunity to thank our law enforcement agencies throughout the state that have been collaborating with PDFNJ to raise awareness and address the opioid crisis from a health perspective. Thousands of lives have been saved by officers administering naloxone, and many NJ residents with an opioid use disorder have sought out treatment thanks to the encouragement and support from members of law enforcement.

Please consider scheduling PDFNJ’s 15 Minute Child Break Presentation for your school, community or faith-based organization. This a free multi-media program which covers the latest drug trends and provides parents, coaches, teachers and other adult caregivers with effective preventive strategies to communicate with their kids about substance misuse and abuse.

Please register for PDFNJ’s next Knock Out Opioid Abuse Learning Series webinar.