FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Contacts: Matt Birchenough, 201-916-1032, media@drugfreenj.org

NJTV Special to Showcase Impact of Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall Series

NEW JERSEY — A new special airing this week on NJTV will highlight the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall Series and successful efforts being made statewide to help stem the ongoing opioid crisis

The special — which will air at 9 p.m. Thursday, October 18; 3 a.m. Saturday, October 20; and 10 p.m. Monday, October 29 — will examine the impact of the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall Series, primarily through experts in various fields that participated in the program.

The series, organized by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, helped bring vital information on the opioid crisis ravaging New Jersey to all 21 counties in the state. However, the town halls also provided a forum for leaders in the fight against the epidemic to showcase initiatives that have been making a positive impact.

“The Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall Series helped to bring the opioid epidemic out in the open and educate thousands of New Jersey residents on the issue, as well as accentuate some of the actions helping some communities make progress against this crisis,” said Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Executive Director Angelo Valente. “The NJTV special will further emphasize these efforts and hopefully inspire other New Jersey residents to become better informed on the opioid epidemic.”

The show features segments with several leaders of New Jersey’s fight against the opioid epidemic, including Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and State Senators Joseph Vitale and Troy Singleton, all of whom participated in the town halls. It also provides a closer look into unique programs, including the Raymond Lesniak Recovery High School, the Hope One mobile recovery access vehicle, the Opioid Overdose Recovery Program and the Community Law Enforcement Addiction Recovery (C.L.E.A.R.) program.

“The statewide town hall series brought together a diverse and powerful cross section of people whose lives have been impacted by opioid use disorder, as well as those working on the front lines and behind the scenes to reverse the crisis,” said Jonathan R. Pearson, Executive Director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. “The NJTV special offers viewers unique insight into the crisis and serves to better engage the public in ways to prevent and combat opioids abuse.”

The town hall series began in April 2017 and concluded in May 2018. More than 14,000 people participated in the town halls, either in-person or by viewing an online stream of the events. The series featured more than 100 expert panelists, including 16 county prosecutors, 10 members of the New Jersey General Assembly and four state senators, as well as several prevention and treatment professionals, medical doctors and recovery specialists.

For a list of NJTV channels in your area, visit www.njtvonline.org/about/where-to-watch.

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About the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey

Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication.  To date, more than $100 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 174 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.

About The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is committed to working alongside those who can help us improve our neighbors’ health, inform their health decisions and inspire them to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. The Foundation’s funding pillars are Caring, Connecting and Creating. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is the sole member of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, both of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information please visit Community.HorizonBlue.com.