The Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall Series has helped to encourage great dialogue about the ongoing opioid epidemic in counties throughout the state this year.

Organized by Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, and partners at the local level the town hall series has drawn thousands of state residents and spread vital information on the risks of prescription opioids and their link to heroin use.

The series will be making its final stop of the year this Tuesday, December 12th, in Middlesex County where State Senator Joseph Vitale (D – Middlesex) will be part of an expert panel discussing the issue.

Senator Vitale, who serves as Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, will provide an in-depth look into the crisis from a state legislative perspective. This event represents a tremendous opportunity for all New Jersey residents to better understand what actions are being taken in Trenton to combat this crisis.

Don’t miss your chance to join the conversation for the final time this year on this critical issue from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Jo Ann Magistro Performing Arts Center at Hammarskjold Middle School in East Brunswick. Visit knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org/townhallseries/middlesex-county for more information and to register.

The discussion will be moderated by Bert Baron of 1450 WCTC and will also include the following panelists:

• Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey
• Vanessa Vitolo, Outreach Coordinator, Victory Bay Recovery Center
• Bonnie Nolan, PhD., Addiction Services Coordinator, Woodbridge Township
• Shuvendu Sen, MD, FACP, Director, Medical Student Education Raritan Bay Medical Center, Meridian Health
• Mara Carlin, CPS - Wellspring Center for Prevention