Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Draws Thousands to Raise Awareness of the Dangers of Prescription Opioids

10/14/2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 14, 2021

Contact: Natalie Golub, 973-382-4560, natalie@drugfreenj.org


MILLBURN — Thousands of New Jersey residents took part in Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day on October 6, and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) is encouraging New Jerseyans to continue to raise awareness about prescription opioids and their links to heroin and fentanyl all month long.

Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day, designated as a permanent day of prevention education and awareness designed to shine a light shining a light on the opioid epidemic took place virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The overwhelming success of the day was demonstrated as residents, businesses and community leaders took to social media and websites, designated proclamations and shared information in communities throughout the state.

The highlight of this year’s Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day was the Learning Series Webinar featuring Dr. Jamie Mells, Lieutenant Commander of the U.S. Public Health Service Overdose Data to Action Coordinator with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The webinar drew more than a thousand participants, but if you were not able to view the webinar live, it is available at the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day website.

“Due to the virtual nature of the day, we can continue to share these vital prevention messages that raise awareness of the of the link between prescribed opioids and heroin and fentanyl overdoses and deaths in our state,” said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ. “We hope that residents will join PDFNJ in raising awareness and sharing these important messages all month long.”

To learn more about Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day please visit knockoutday.drugfreenj.org

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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 $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 202 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.