Blog
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Tomorrow is the Big Day!
Tomorrow is Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day in NJ. 2,000 volunteers in every corner of our state will be making history.
The newjerseyhills.com editorial below says it all. A meaningful tribute to each and every Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day volunteer.
…WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
EDITORIAL: It's time to knock it out
Opiate abuse may be the most under-publicized health epidemic facing our state and country.
The prevalence of addiction to pain-killers hits close to home, affecting many of your neighbors, friends and even family members across the Watchung Hills region. Just look at all the people lined up at the local Walgreens, CVS and other pharmacies.
So a group of concerned stakeholders is doing something about it. And they will have their voices heard loud and clear this week.
On Thursday in Long Hill Township, a team of volunteers will canvas local neighborhoods in a concerted effort to “Knock Out Opiate Abuse.”
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Volunteers to Make House Calls to Doctors About Opioids
As I have discussed many times in this blog; stemming the tide of the opiate abuse epidemic impacting New Jersey cannot be done without all members of the community. October 6, 2016 is the date designated as New Jersey’s Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day. Every single resident can get involved, help raise awareness, and make a difference. Be part of this statewide single-day initiative that will mobilize the prevention and treatment communities, community leaders, and concerned citizens and families to raise awareness of the potential for dependency on prescribed pain medicine and its link to heroin abuse rates in our state. Join with the 2,000 volunteers who have already signed-up to be part of New Jersey’s Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day.
Please share this with family and friends that would want to join this lifesaving effort.
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We STILL Need You!
Don’t forget to register and volunteer for Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day on October 6th!
As the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey continues its mission to prevent the abuse of opioids I have spoken to many parents, community leaders, and concerned residents who ask me a very similar question, “What can I do to help stop the spread of the opiate abuse epidemic?” Or, “I want to do something to get involved, what can I do?” These questions were, in part, a springboard for the launch of the statewide Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day.
On October 6, 2016 every resident of New Jersey, who has as little as one hour to spare, can help knock out opiate abuse in their community.
Volunteers will be provided with materials to share in their community; either by leaving an awareness message on the doorknobs of their neighbors’ homes, or by visiting a local prescriber to share a resource guide on safer prescribing and information for preventing and treating addiction.
Every one of us can make a difference by sharing information and raising awareness to prevent opiate abuse. No family or community is immune. I hope you consider volunteering to help make a difference on October 6th. Additional information is available on the Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day website.
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We Need You!
As the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey continues its mission to prevent the abuse of opioids I have spoken to many parents, community leaders, and concerned residents who ask me a very similar question, “What can I do to help stop the spread of the opiate abuse epidemic?” Or, “I want to do something to get involved, what can I do?” These questions were, in part, a springboard for the launch of the statewide Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day.
On October 6, 2016 every resident of New Jersey, who has as little as one hour to spare, can help knock out opiate abuse in their community.
Volunteers will be provided with materials to share in their community; either by leaving an awareness message on the doorknobs of their neighbors’ homes, or by visiting a local prescriber to share a resource guide on safer prescribing and information for preventing and treating addiction.
Every one of us can make a difference by sharing information and raising awareness to prevent opiate abuse. No family or community is immune. I hope you consider volunteering to help make a difference on October 6th. Additional information is available on the Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day website.
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Media Campaign to Combat Opiate Abuse Available for Your Community
In New Jersey alone, over 2.75 million prescriptions for highly addictive opioids were potentially prescribed– to children, friends, and family members, and unfortunately, many times without the benefit of any information of their addictive qualities being shared by their prescriber. The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey set out to address this issue with one key player in the fight against opiate abuse – PARENTS.
PDFNJ is making available to you, free of charge, the “Before They Prescribe - You Decide” campaign. This campaign is geared at educating parents on the link between prescribed prescription pain medicine and heroin abuse and encouraging and empowering them to speak to their doctor or dentist about the potential addictive qualities of pain medicine prescribed, as well as possible alternatives to opioids that are appropriate. Please access this campaign at DrugFreeNJ.org/BeforeTheyPrescribe, and utilize in your community. The materials and all content (including photos and artwork) should not be altered or used in any manner not authorized by us. We encourage you to bring this lifesaving message to your community.
How Can You Display these Messages in Your Community?
- Websites
- Posters
- Flyers
- School Resources
- Municipal Bill Inserts
- Movie Theater Previews
- Local Pharmacies
- Local Physician Offices
- Newspaper Ads
- Church Bulletins
- Electronic Billboards
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Today is International Overdose Awareness Day
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. With New Jersey in the midst of an opiate abuse epidemic, it is important to have an Overdose Action Plan. The Center for Addiction Recovery Education & Success (CARES) has developed lifesaving recommendations to follow if you suspect someone is overdosing:
- Call 911 and report observable behavior.
- Administer Rescue Breathing
- Administer Naloxone
- Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
Visit CaresNJ.org for information, resources, and training on how to administer naloxone.
Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the US, with 47,055 lethal drug overdoses in 2014. Opioid addiction is driving this epidemic, with 18,893 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers, and 10,574 overdose deaths related to heroin in 2014, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
No family is immune from this epidemic. Don’t let your family and friends become part of these statistics.
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Faith Leaders: First Responders to the Opiate Abuse Epidemic
Stemming the tide of the opiate abuse epidemic impacting New Jersey cannot be done without all members of the community, including our Faith Based Leaders. The National Prevention Strategy calls on community, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations to support the implementation and enforcement of alcohol and drug control policies. This includes educating youth and adults about the risks of prescription drug misuse and increasing awareness on the proper storage and disposal of prescription medications. Over the past two years, PDFNJ has help symposiums to educate the faith community on how it can become engaged as the often times, first responders for families impacted by addiction.
Next month, on September 20th, a Do No Harm symposium for the faith-based Community symposium will be held to empower the religious community in Middlesex County and our state with information and education on preventing opiate abuse, and helping those who are addicted: REGISTER HERE.
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Don’t Get Hooked on Drugs Fishing Tournament Kicks Off and Encourages Families to Spend Quality Time Together
Time off from school, plenty of sunshine, and the hot days of summer are the perfect tools for enjoying quality time with family. The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is encouraging the way to do just that: participating in the second annual Don’t Get Hooked on Drugs Online New Jersey Family Fishing Tournament.
From Friday, August 19 at 12:01 a.m. to Sunday, August 28 at 11:59 p.m., children 18 years of age or younger can enjoy a family fishing trip, take a picture posing with their family and post it with the hashtag #drugfreenj. Pictures can be posted by liking PDFNJ’s Facebook page at Drug-Free NJ or by following PDFNJ on Twitter and Instagram.
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U.S. Surgeon General Calls on Prescribers to Mobilize to Prevent Opioid Abuse
(l-r) U.S Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Executive Director Angelo Valente, and NJ Sen. Bob Menendez discuss Murthy’s plan to issue the first ever Surgeon General’s report on Addiction and Health.
On Monday, through the efforts of Senator Robert Menendez and Senator Cory Booker, I was honored to moderate a panel discussion featuring both U.S. Senators, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin to discuss the opiate epidemic and steps being taken to stem the tide of this public health crisis that is impacting millions of NJ residents and Americans.
As all of PDFNJ’s subscribers understand, since 2009 PDFNJ has been a leading voice and advocate for initiatives and legislation to help protect all family members, but particularly our children from the scourges of prescription drugs and heroin dependency. We are losing too many of our family, friends, and neighbors and we need to do everything possible to educate both prescribers and patients about the fact that opioids can become addictive and in many instances lead to heroin addiction. It is for this reason that the passage of NJ Assembly Bill 3424 is so crucial in protecting our children and families. This bill would require doctors and other prescribers, when treating a patient under 18 years of age, to discuss the potential risks of dependency with the patient and their parents before writing a prescription for opiate-based painkillers, as well as to review non-opiate alternative treatments when appropriate.
We need everyone’s help if we are truly going to turn the tide and reverse the epidemic in New Jersey and our country. Over the next several weeks we will be sharing with you an update on this and other legislation, as well as details about an upcoming statewide day of awareness, Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day, that will be held in every community on October 6, 2016.
During the panel discussion of the U.S. Surgeon General’s tour of NJ, each of the speakers stressed the fact that the opiate epidemic must have immediate steps taken in order for our state and our country to realize any progress…
I could not agree more!
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Surgeon General: We Have To ‘Change How Our Country Sees Addiction’
With the leadership of New Jersey’s United States Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is pleased to welcome United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to New Jersey for a Forum on Addiction and Healing on August 8, 2016. Limited seats are still available, register today to guarantee your participation!