Today’s guest blog, written by Dr. Lisa Lieberman, Chair and Professor, Department of , Public Health, Montclair State University, provides a summary of the results of a survey of businesses in Montclair on the opioid crisis. I encourage business leaders of Montclair, Essex County and other employers to register for the FREE Breakfast Workshop and Training Session to be held Wednesday, March 26th that will explore how the business community can address the opioid crisis.
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Survey of Businesses about the Opioid Crisis Conducted by Montclair State University Students
Dr. Lisa Lieberman, Chair & Professor - Department of Public Health @ Montclair State University
What do community members and businesses need to know about opioid addiction? These questions drove a partnership between the Department of Public Health at Montclair State University and the Township of Montclair Department of Health and Human Services. The township is a recipient of opioid settlement funds, a grant that enables them to provide services, education, and support to reduce opioid use in Montclair. In the summer of 2024, Amy Monaco, Health Officer and Director of the Montclair Department of Health and Human Services, met with faculty from the Montclair State University Department of Public Health to create a formal partnership, called an Academic Health Department.
For its first major project, the AHD sought assistance in assuring the most effective use of the Township's opioid settlement funds. In fall 2024, through a course in the Master of Public Health (MPH), enthusiastic graduate students took on a project to gather data and provide technical support to both the health department and the Essex County Health and Wellness Recovery Center. With assistance from the health department, the university, and Bill Lillis of the Partnership for a Drug-Free NJ, students developed a survey and fanned out through the center of town, gathering information from 28 businesses about their knowledge, skills, workplace policies, and needs concerning opioid abuse prevention and services. The data provided valuable insights into the needs of businesses in the Township of Montclair.
Students presented their findings to its organizational partners (Township of Montclair Health Dept, Essex County Health and Wellness Recovery Center, Montclair Ambulance Corps, and the Partnership for a Drug-free NJ), resulting in great discussion and plans for future collaboration. Businesses in Montclair differed on how much they knew about the impact of opioids in Montclair, but most were interested in additional training and support. The survey results, to be presented at the upcoming Breakfast Workshop & Training Session for business leaders scheduled to take place March 26 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Montclair, demonstrated the potential benefits of an ongoing collaboration between local health officials and business leaders to address the opioid crisis.
Notice: This article reflects the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ). This information should not be construed as legal advice from the author or PDFNJ. Please consult your own attorney before making any legal decisions.
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The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s Drugs Don’t Work in NJ workplace program provides technical assistance to any New Jersey business, not-for-profit, community or faith-based agency interested in updating their drug-free workplace policies and procedures. All programs and services are provided free of charge.