The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s newest collaboration with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey kicked off last week with the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Summit on the State and Federal Response to the Opioid Epidemic at the Newark Museum. Expert speakers from the state and federal governments provided the capacity crowd an understanding of the opioid crisis and the resources available for communities to address the issue.

The two-year Knock Out Opioid Abuse initiative will feature town halls in 21 communities – one in each county – as well as programs designed to educate parents and prescribers and a media campaign to spread awareness of the epidemic to all residents of New Jersey.

Jonathan Pearson, Executive Director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, outlined the initiative last week in an article on Horizon’s Health News website. The three-pronged approach of outreach, education and awareness will serve a vital role in informing New Jersey residents of the risks or opioids and actions that can be taken to address this crisis.

The first of the community town halls will be held 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 in Robbinsville in Mercer County. To attend this event or to stay informed on town halls in your area, visit knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org/townhallseries.