NJ Office of the Attorney General, Hunterdon County, & PDFNJ Collaborate to Bring Opioid Education to Prescribers
11/1/2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 1, 2024
Contacts: Lisa Batitto, news@drugfreenj.org
New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office, and Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Collaborate to Bring Opioid Education to Prescribers
FLEMINGTON, NJ – The Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office is intensifying its efforts to combat the opioid epidemic across New Jersey by partnering with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) to offer free opioid prescribing education to healthcare providers in the county.
“As community partners, we recognize the urgent need to combat the opioid crisis and create a healthier, safer environment for our residents,” said Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson, “Medical providers play a pivotal role in this effort, and we encourage their active participation in education and prevention. By working together – law enforcement, healthcare professionals, educators, and community members – we can make a meaningful impact in addressing the opioid crisis. Our continued thanks to our community partners for their commitment to a healthier, safer future.”
Hunterdon County prescribers have the opportunity to participate, free of charge, in PDFNJ's continuing education webinar, "Do No Harm: Exploring Strategies for Safer Prescribing of Opioids." The webinar features medical, law enforcement and legal experts discussing the impact of the opioid epidemic on New Jersey and providing information on how to safely and responsibly prescribe opioids to patients. It also fulfills New Jersey's requirement that prescribers receive one hour of continuing education concerning prescription opioids to renew their licenses.
“The Attorney General’s Office, Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson, and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office have been tremendous partners in the effort to address the opioid epidemic in New Jersey,” said Angelo Valente, PDFNJ Executive Director. “By making prescriber education more accessible, we empower healthcare professionals to make informed decisions prioritizing patient safety and public health.”
The webinar is specifically tailored for healthcare professionals, including doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, residents, fellows and medical students. The curriculum is accessible through the website www.njsaferx.com
“Working with the County Prosecutor’s Offices and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey to develop trainings like this helps address one of the key drivers of this epidemic. Preventing opioid dependency in the first place is part of our comprehensive effort to overcome the opioid epidemic,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “It’s imperative that our healthcare professionals have the knowledge and the tools they need to treat their patients with the best care possible.”
“Taking steps to prevent opioid dependency is as important as helping individuals already living with it,” said Tiffany Wilson, Director of the Office of Alternative and Community Responses. “This webinar will help move us closer to the goal of successfully combating the opioid epidemic.”
To date, the knowledge from this initiative has benefitted an estimated 2.6 million patients. Participants can register for the webinar using the discount code “EmpowerHunterdon” to gain free access. For more information about this accredited program, visit www.njsaferx.com
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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 $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.