NJ Annual Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Oct. 6
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
CAMDEN COUNTY — Thousands of New Jersey residents will be coming together virtually to Knock Out Opioid Abuse on October 6, for the state’s 6th Annual Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day.
Designated as a permanent day of prevention education and awareness, Knock Opioid Abuse Day is designed to shine light on the opioid crisis impacting thousands of New Jersey residents and families. In 2020, 228 people in Burlington County died of a drug overdose, a majority of which involved some form of opioid. Additionally, between January and June 2021 there have been 772 Naloxone administrations to reverse opioid overdoses and 182 suspected overdose deaths.
“The goal is to raise awareness of the link between prescribed opioids and heroin and fentanyl overdoses and deaths in our state, to reduce stigma and encourage support for those in recovery from substance use disorder,” explained Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.
“I encourage all New Jerseyans to visit the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day website to learn more about what you can do to educate New Jersey residents and your community about the dangers associated with opioids,” Valente, said. “Taking a few moments to spread these important messages of awareness and prevention can help to save a life.”
This year’s Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series Webinar: How You Can Help Fight the Opioid Epidemic, at 11 a.m. on October 6, will feature Dr. Jamie Mells, PhD, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service Overdose Data to Action Coordinator, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In its sixth year, Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day in New Jersey, is a statewide project that is created by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ); The Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Addiction Services; and the Community Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Morris, with help from partners across the state.
To learn more about Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day please visit http://knockoutday.drugfreenj.org/: view the Training Webinar to learn how to get involved; visit the toolkit for sharable messages, and to sign up for this year’s Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series Webinar.