FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 19, 2026

Contact: Lisa Batitto, news@drugfreenj.org

2026 Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Webinar to Address Opioids in Pregnancy and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

MILLBURN, NJ –The next webinar in the 2026 Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series will focus on the impact of opioid use during pregnancy in a session titled “Opioids in Pregnancy & Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.” The free session will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 26 and is presented by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), the Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR), and the Opioid Education Foundation of America (OEFA).

The webinar will feature Dr. Salma Ali, associate professor of pediatrics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and neonatologist at University Hospital, where she developed the NASTOP program to treat mothers and babies coping with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Dr. Ali will discuss the effects of opioid use during pregnancy, the clinical challenges of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, and evidence-based approaches to caring for both mothers and newborns.

“Addressing opioids in pregnancy requires compassion, collaboration, and a commitment to evidence-based care,” said Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. “By educating healthcare providers, community leaders, and families about Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, we can better support mothers in recovery and give newborns the healthiest possible start in life.”

The Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series has reached over 10,000 participants annually, providing continuing education to professionals in healthcare, behavioral health, emergency services, and community leadership. Since its launch in 2020, the series has featured national and state-level experts who bring a multidisciplinary perspective to combating opioid misuse.

The initiative is part of the broader Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day campaign, held statewide on October 6, which brings together communities and prescribers to raise awareness about the risks of opioid misuse. In 2025 alone, New Jersey saw 1,312 suspected overdose deaths, underscoring the need for sustained, inclusive outreach and education.

To register for the webinar and learn more, visit: knockoutday.drugfreenj.org

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Best known for its statewide anti-drug 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 $200 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 232 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.