PDFNJ Wins First Place Jersey Award for Knock Out Opioid Abuse Learning Series
9/27/2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 26, 2024
Contacts: Lisa Batitto, news@drugfreenj.org
Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Wins First Place Jersey Award for Knock Out Opioid Abuse Learning Series
CEDAR GROVE, NJ — The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), Opioid Education Foundation of America (OEFA) and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General have received first place in the Public Relations Not for Profit/Pro Bono Work category for their Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day Learning Series at the 56th Annual Jersey Awards, held on September 18. The awards, presented by the New Jersey Ad Club, recognize excellence in advertising, marketing, media and public relations across the state.
Launched in 2020, the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Learning Series offers valuable education on the latest developments in the opioid epidemic to both the general public and medical professionals. This series is the result of a collaborative effort between PDFNJ, OEFA, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, NJ CARES and the Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR).
“Education and collaboration are keys to conquering the opioid epidemic,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “The important work that the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and NJ CARES, within the Office of Alternative and Community Responses, are doing, helps provide the necessary tools, education, and resources needed to save lives. I am honored to see our collaboration being recognized.”
The Learning Series has grown each year since it was created during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with attendance reaching nearly 10,000 in 2023. Participants have learned from experts from a wide range of backgrounds and expertise, including representatives of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the New Jersey Department of Health, the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as many universities and state and local organizations involved in the fight against the opioid epidemic.
Elaine Pozycki, founder of OEFA and chair of PDFNJ, highlighted the importance of this collaboration in addressing the opioid crisis.
"It is essential to provide parents with the information they need about the dangers of opioid misuse so they can keep their families safe,” she said, “Our partnerships with organizations like NJ CARES and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General are essential in ensuring that we provide accurate, up-to-date information that can save lives. Together, we are making significant strides in educating the public and healthcare professionals about the complexities of the opioid epidemic."
In addition to this award, PDFNJ was also recognized for its other initiatives at the Jersey Awards, including the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Campaign, which won first place in Public Relations Feature Media Placement, and the Wisdom Tooth PSA Campaign, which secured first place in the Television Public Service Announcements category. The Scorpion PSA Campaign received a second-place award in this category.
For more information about the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and Prevent Opioid Abuse, visit www.drugfreenj.org
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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.