Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall Series Moves to Morris County

Contact: Matt Birchenough, 201-916-1032, media@drugfreenj.org

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall Series Moves to Morris County

WHEN: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 (Doors open at 5 p.m.)

WHERE: Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, 500 West Hanover Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960

WHAT: Morris County residents are invited to join the conversation on the national opioid epidemic as the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey continues its Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall series.

The meeting will be the second in a 17-part series held throughout the state of New Jersey over the next 18 months, focusing on the issue of prescription drug dependency and heroin abuse.

Organized with the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, the town hall series includes collaboration from hundreds of local prevention and treatment organizations, as well as local and county law enforcement, government and medical community leaders.

WHY: In 2015, more than 33,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose, an average of about 91 deaths per day, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Morris County, deaths caused by opioid overdoses increased from 43 in 2015 to 64 in 2016, and at least 23 such deaths have occurred so far in 2017, according to Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, who will be part of the expert panel speaking at the town hall.

“All residents of New Jersey are encouraged to join the conversation and participate in their local Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall to understand the disease of addiction, develop strategies to help protect their families and identify resources to address individuals who have become dependent on prescription drugs or are abusing heroin,” said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: A dedicated website, knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org, has been created to provide a full schedule of countywide town hall meetings and registration information. Knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org also will provide local, county and state substance abuse prevention and treatment resources available.

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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 $70 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 161 Advertising and Public Relations Awards from National, Regional & Statewide Media Organizations.