Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall in Toms River to Address Opioid Epidemic’s Effects on Community

9/17/2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2019

Contact: Nicolette Nappi, Media Coordinator, 973-382-4560, nicolette@drugfreenj.org

Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall in Toms River to Address Opioid Epidemic’s Effects on Community

TOMS RIVER —A Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall, sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ), will be held in Toms River for local residents and experts on the opioid epidemic to discuss its impact on their community and seek possible solutions.

The Toms River Town Hall is free to attend and open to all community members who are interested in learning more about the opioid epidemic and how to become a part of the solution. The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25 in Mancini Hall at the Ocean County Library - Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753. Doors open at 10 a.m.

 Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, through its philanthropic arm, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, is collaborating with PDFNJ on a new two-year Knock Out Opioid Abuse initiative to address the opioid epidemic through community outreach, prescriber education, parent education and a statewide awareness campaign. The Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall Series brings experts on the opioid epidemic from various fields, including law enforcement, the medical community, government, prevention, treatment and recovery together for events in all 21 New Jersey counties throughout 2019 and 2020.

“The opioid epidemic is a multifaceted issue that requires a dynamic approach in which parents, community leaders, students and residents must work together and develop ways to resolve this public health crisis,” said PDFNJ Executive Director Angelo Valente.

The Toms River Town Hall is being held in collaboration with Hope Sheds Light and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

The expert panel of speakers will include Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer; Toms River Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher; Rev. Susan S. Jones of Holy Cross Lutheran Church; Beverly Prima, Hope Sheds Light; and Heather Price, Volunteer Coordinator for Hope Sheds Light and a Person in Long-Term Recovery.

In 2018, Ocean County’s 217 drug overdose deaths — most of which involved some form of opioid — ranked fourth among New Jersey’s 21 counties, according the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Law enforcement officers administered the overdose antidote, naloxone, 811 times that same year.

 “There are no easy answers for solving the opioid epidemic, but together we can make a difference in this important fight.” said Valente.

For more information on the Toms River Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall or to see a list of other upcoming town halls, visit knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org.

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Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey: Best known for its statewide substance use prevention 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 $100 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 174 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.

About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state's oldest and largest health insurer is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health service corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, vision and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is leading the transformation of health care in New Jersey by working with doctors and hospitals to deliver innovative, patient-centered programs that reward the quality, not quantity, of care patients receive. Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association serving more than 3.8 million members.

About The Horizon Foundation For New Jersey: The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is committed to working alongside those who can help us improve our neighbors’ health, inform their health decisions and inspire them to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. The Foundation’s funding pillars are Caring, Connecting and Creating. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is the sole member of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, both of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit www.Horizonblue.com/Foundation