The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey presented the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office with a National Association of Government Communicator’s award for excellence for their campaign, “Heroin: Are you talking to your kids yet?” (l-r) Sheriff Gary G. Schaffer, Cape May County Sheriff, Freeholder Leonard C. Desiderio, Cape May County, Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor, Cape May County Prosecutor, Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director, Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, Chief Kenneth W. Super, Chief of Detectives, Office of the Prosecutor of Cape May County.

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE - The Partnership for a Drug-free New Jersey along with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office was recognized by the National Association of Government Communicators for their collaboration on their award winning campaign, “Heroin: Are you talking to your kids yet?”.

“We are very grateful for the cooperation of the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office in helping us solve the opiate abuse epidemic that has gripped our state,” said Angelo M. Valente, executive director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. “We remain committed to ending this crisis and look forward to continued collaboration with all of our partners across New Jersey.”

The campaign, which uses statistics to show the rise in heroin overdoses among 18-24 year olds in New Jersey, implores parents to speak with their children about the dangers of heroin abuse. The imagery appeared on billboards in Monmouth, Ocean, and Cape May counties as well as NJTransit buses and trains and PATH stations.

“We are very proud to receive this award and will continue to work with the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey to reduce heroin usage and increase awareness of its dangers.” said Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor.

Valente noted that this campaign is merely the first step in a series of campaign pieces targeting the heroin abuse epidemic. Last month, the Partnership unveiled a a video testimonial of four New Jersey mothers who’s children also struggled with addiction. The video can be found on the Partnership’s new site, TalkNowNJ.com.