Thanks to the help of an estimated 6,000 volunteers last Friday throughout the state, vital information on the risks of prescription opioids and their links to heroin abuse reached hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents on the second annual Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day. This event would not have been possible without the support of county KOOAD coordinators, thousands of NJ students, law enforcement officers, elected officials, the prevention, treatment & medical communities, and most importantly – families who have been directly impacted by the opioid epidemic. Thank you all for making this day so successful.

Residents canvassed neighborhoods delivering door hangers to houses in their towns, while also visiting the offices of healthcare professionals to present prescribers with key information on safer prescribing practices. The distribution of these materials, which were also spread through social media, represented a true community achievement as elected officials, police departments, community groups, local businesses, schools and others all did their part to spread awareness of the opioid crisis and arm citizens with the necessary information to prevent or address addiction.

With opioid abuse impacting our state at an epidemic level, now was the time to educate and raise awareness, and our volunteers certainly responded.

The news media captured the extraordinary efforts of volunteers throughout the state, which helped to further expand the reach of this life-saving initiative. Please take the time to read and watch some of the following stories detailing another successful Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day.

Nutley, Essex County: http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/essex/nutley/2017/10/07/opioids-nutley-athletes-raise-awareness/738876001/

Gloucester City, Camden County: https://whyy.org/articles/spreading-word-addiction-treatment-street-level-new-jersey/

Stockton University, Atlantic County: http://www.snjtoday.com/story/36540690/knock-out-opioid-abuse-day-event-at-stockton

Roselle, Union County: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/roselle-roselle-park/articles/the-roselle-community-takes-to-the-streets-to-kno

Ventnor, Atlantic County: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/knock-out-opioid-abuse-day-draws-attention-to-dangers-of/article_58750cfd-70d1-56e5-8c47-b83a2965fb11.html#utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Bordentown, Burlington County: http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/news/local/students-volunteers-spend-weekend-on-opioid-fighting-mission-in-bordentown/article_dadd63e0-ade4-11e7-8042-10604b9ffe60.html

Glen Rock, Bergen County: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/fair-lawn-slash-glen-rock/sections/health-and-wellness/articles/glen-rock-is-all-in-on-opioid-awareness