New Jersey has made great strides against the opioid epidemic, but there are still far too many residents affected by this crisis. The goal of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) is to prevent opioid substance use disorder before it starts to destroy lives. That's why it's more important than ever that we raise awareness of the dangers of prescription opioids and their link to heroin and fentanyl. 

Making people aware that there are alternatives to opioids is a key component to saving lives. A recent study found that 4 out of 5 people say they want to avoid opioids after surgery, while 70 percent of the survey respondents would avoid opioids if another option were available.

New Jersey was the first state to pass the Patient Notification Act, a law that requires prescribers to have important conversations with patients and parents warning of the addictive qualities of opioid prescriptions while providing non-opioid alternatives. This legislation is helping to save lives, and PDFNJ spearheaded and advocated for the passage of this act, which is now replicated in 18 states across the country.

A study commissioned by PDFNJ concluded the Patient Notification Act has had a profound impact on the state's fight against the opioid epidemic. It found that prior to the enactment of the law only 18 percent of the participants warned patients about the risk of opioid addiction when prescribing opioids. Following the law's passage, 95 percent routinely warned patients about the risk of addiction.

Another important step in fighting the opioid epidemic is prescriber education. PDFNJ offers a webinar, “Do No Harm: Exploring Strategies for Safer Prescribing of Opioids,” which fulfills the New Jersey one-hour continuing education requirement concerning prescription opioids. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has strengthened its commitment to fighting the opioid epidemic, offering the course free of charge for the first 500 Ocean County prescribers to sign up. To register, click here.

I also want to remind you that the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series Webinars are a great resource to educate yourself about prevention, treatment and most up-to-date information on the opioid epidemic. The next webinar, “The Opioid Epidemic and the Impact on New Jersey Families,” will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 24. It will focus on opioid addiction’s impact on the family of someone struggling with a substance use disorder, and what positive steps they can take during these challenges. To register, click here.

One last reminder, the “Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey” music competition is underway and there only a few more days to enter. The deadline for submissions is Monday, February 28. Click here to find out more and enter.