FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24, 2025

Contacts: Lisa Batitto, news@drugfreenj.org

Essex County Business Leaders Invited to Free
Breakfast Workshop on Opioid Crisis

MILLBURN, NJ — Local business and community leaders can take action against the opioid crisis at a complimentary breakfast workshop on March 26, at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Montclair. Hosted by the Essex County Health & Wellness Recovery Center, the Montclair Mayors Wellness Campaign, the Montclair Department of Health and Human Services, and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), the event will provide a legal update and training session on effective drug-free workplace policies.

“This is about more than just compliance. We will be discussing ways to protect employees, customers, and the community,” said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ. “Businesses play a major role in prevention, and we want to give them the tools to handle this crisis head-on.”

The session will run from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and cover practical strategies for preventing substance misuse in the workplace. Business owners, human resources professionals, and community leaders are encouraged to attend. Parking is available across the street and on surrounding streets.

To register, visit ddw.drugfreenj.org/breakfast. For more information or to RSVP, contact Bill Lillis, Drug-Free Workplace Coordinator at PDFNJ, at bill@drugfreenj.org or 862-253-6808, or Robin Lavorato, Executive Director of the Essex County Health & Wellness Recovery Center, at rlhealthguide@gmail.com or 802-485-8811.

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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 $200 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 230 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.