NY Giants' Diehl, 'Anytown' Highlight Teen Athletes' Opioid Risks

TOMS RIVER, NJ — In Ocean County, opioid abuse and heroin addiction have claimed dozen of lives in the last five years. The idea that it can happen in any town is something many understand.

Do we realize how close to home it might be, however? If you have a child who's an athlete, do you know what to look for and what to do if your child suffers a serious sports injury, and the risks of exposing your son or daughter to opioid painkillers?

On Thursday night, a free event at Ocean County College aims to educate parents, teens, coaches and athletic trainers and others about the issues facing athletes and their families when it comes to opiates and sports injuries.

The event, called Anytown, will be held at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts. The event begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 4, and is hosted by the RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery along with the Matthew J. Morahan Health Assessment Center for Athletes and the DART Prevention Coalition.

The event will include a one-night only performance of the cautionary musical, Anytown, with a 10-minute talkback session with the show actors.

"Anytown" explores the story of star athlete, Hope Baker, who sports a 4.0 GPA and limitless potential. But when a boy she likes offers her a pill to reduce the pain from a soccer injury, Hope makes a decision that rapidly transforms her dreams into an escalating nightmare as she becomes addicted to painkillers.

Immediately following, there will be a 30-minute panel discussion about proper training techniques, sport diversification and overall wellness with two-time Super Bowl Champion, former New York Giant David Diehl and Angela Cicchino, a recovery specialist at the RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery

In addition, free functional movement screenings will be provided for student athletes.

According to the American Journal of Public Health, teenage athletes are 50 percent more at-risk of misusing prescription drugs. For student athletes, most do not turn to drugs out of peer pressure or with the intention of impressing someone, but instead become unintentionally addicted after being introduced to prescription drugs after sustaining painful injuries and overuse injuries are becoming more common in athletes as young as 12 years old.

"Anytown" is an original musical developed in response to the devastating impact prescription opioid misuse, heroin, and fentanyl has had on communities throughout New Jersey. It focuses on the consequences of opioid abuse and its impact on teens and families.

Presenting the seriousness of this national crisis as a cautionary tale, this musical empowers students with the knowledge to make positive decisions to avoid opioid use and help them understand the dangerous consequences of substance use disorder.

The musical was created from interviews with opioid prevention experts, families with children struggling with this disease, individuals recovering from opioid abuse, doctors, law enforcement officers, students and educators, in partnership with the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and RWJBarnabas Health.

Key research and feedback during the development of this musical was provided by RWJBarnabas Health’s Institute for Prevention and Recovery and Partnership for Drug-Free New Jersey.

The musical is being performed at middle and high schools across New Jersey to help raise awareness about the dangers of opioid abuse and help prevent further impact on teens and families.

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