Last week, I had the opportunity to discuss in an article for Newsbreak the opioid epidemic and how the efforts of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey are helping to make progress to address this crisis that is plaguing our state and the nation.

In New Jersey, more than 3,000 people died of a drug overdose in 2020. That is 3,000 deaths too many, but a number that has held steady since 2019. The goal of PDFNJ is to prevent opioid addiction before it even starts and hopefully save lives.

We have been successful in working with New Jersey’s government and other groups to help put patients’ needs first when it comes to opioids through spearheading the Patient Notification Act, a law that has been replicated in 18 states and has been introduced in Congress as the Opioid Patients’ Right to Know Act.  

PDFNJ’s Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day, held each year on October 6, along with our numerous town halls, webinars and prescriber education, aim to educate and inform all New Jerseyans about the dangers of opioids. These programs are just some of those highlighted in this informative article that I hope you will take a few minutes to read.

Together we can all be part of the solution to end the opioid epidemic.

Continued wishes to stay safe and well.