Oct. 6 Deemed as "Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day" in Morris County

The Morris County Board of Freeholders named Oct. 6 "Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day" in Morris County. More than 100 people in Morris County have died from opiates this year, and the Freeholders urge residents to take a stand against the drug.

“We understand that one event on one day is not going to solve this problem," Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo said. "But the effort of Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day is to reach out to providers of opiates and to make the community even more aware of the crisis we are facing, one that threatens every single family in our community."

On Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day, freeholders will work to educate families of the addictive qualities of opioid pain medicines and their link to heroin abuse.

Teams of volunteers will visit physicians and dentists who prescribe opiates and ask them to consider other therapies or treatment goals for their patients, as well as talk with patients about the pros and cons of the drug.

Other communities in New Jersey will also focus their attention on preventing opioid addiction on Oct. 6. Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey encourages all communities to acknowledge this day to take steps towards combatting addiction. The hope is to mobilize the prevention and treatment communities, community leaders, and residents to raise awareness of abuse issues linked to the pain medication.

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