Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Announces Symposium for Faith-Based Community Leaders

MORRISTOWN--- The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) is announcing a free training that will be provide faith-based leaders with information and resources to help stem the tide of the opiate abuse epidemic that has engulfed our state.

The Faith Based Do No Harm Symposium will be held on September 16, 2015 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Bethel Church of Morristown, 59 Spring Street, in Morristown, NJ. The symposium is sponsored by PDFNJ, the Drug-Enforcement Administration-New Jersey Division, the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, Bethel Church of Morristown, New Life Recovery and Referral Program, Community Coalition, and the Spring Street Community Development Corporation.

“Faith-based leaders are valuable members of the community and help out greatly with the increasing heroin epidemic our state is currently facing. Communities might not see it as an issue where they live, however, the substance abuse epidemic in New Jersey is rising at staggering rates and is difficult to ignore. Whether it is a family member or a close friend, addiction can happen to anyone and the best way to combat the problem is to know more on how to prevent it. Faith leaders are often the first responders for families looking to prevent substance abuse in their home or to treat an addiction.” said Angelo Valente, Executive Director at PDFNJ.

Members of the faith-based communities as well as community leaders are encouraged to attend the symposium to learn more about preventing substance abuse and providing support to families in crisis. With the number of individuals engaging in drug use increasing daily, it is important for congregation leaders to be informed of ways they can prevent and address the substance abuse epidemic. Many suffering from addiction do not have the support of their families during this difficult time and often relapse in recovery due to that lack of support.

Topics to be covered at the symposium include the current trends in substance abuse afflicting New Jersey families, the dynamic of addiction, how to prevent substance abuse, resources and information to assist those suffering from addiction, and key steps in supporting long-term recovery.

“Some faith-based leaders simply do not have access to the resources that person is in need of. This symposium will enable faith-based and community leaders to go back to their communities with plenty of resources and education about substance abuse and how to get those individuals the treatment they need,” Valente said.

For more information on the upcoming symposium and to register visit: www.drugfreenj.org/faithbaseddonoharm