burlingtoncountytimes.com: Volunteers prepare for Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day

10/5/2018

EVESHAM — Groups of volunteers will be spread out across the state on Saturday for the third annual Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day.

The goal of the day is to help stem the opioid epidemic by preventing people from turning to heroin after getting hooked on prescription drugs, said Angelo Valente, the executive director for the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.

“It started three years ago and we were at a meeting in Morris County,” Valente said. “At this meeting there was some discussion about taking the new guidelines that were provided by the CDC about safer prescribing (methods) and sharing those guidelines with medical offices.”

Last year, about 10,000 volunteers spread the word out throughout the state, Valente said.