FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2026

Contact: Lisa Batitto, news@drugfreenj.org

First Webinar of 2026 Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series Examines Synthetic Opioids

MILLBURN, NJ –The first webinar in the 2026 Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series will address the growing threat of synthetic opioids in a session titled “Opioids & Synthetics: What We Need to Know.” The free session will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 29, 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 session will feature Dr. Lewis S. Nelson, dean and chief of health affairs and professor of emergency medicine and medical toxicology at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Dr. Nelson will explore the rise in synthetic opioid use and overdose deaths, define key substances, and offer practical guidance on prevention and treatment strategies tailored to this rapidly changing threat.

“This webinar will shine a light on the increasingly complex nature of the opioid crisis, particularly with the surge in synthetic substances,” said Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ. “Understanding the science behind these drugs and their impact on individuals and communities is vital for shaping the next phase of our prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies.”

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.