The Center for Prevention and Counseling invites the public to a free “Knock Out Opiate Abuse Town Hall” event sponsored by The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, the philanthropic arm of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, New Jersey (BCBSNJ). Along with collaboration from The Partnership for Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), this Town Hall series has been occurring throughout the state of New Jersey and will be held in Sussex County at The Center, 65 Newton-Sparta Road, Andover on Friday, September 22, 2017. Doors open at 8:30am with breakfast followed by a panel of guest speakers between 9and 10am, including Sussex County Prosecutor Francis A. Koch; NJ State Senator Steve Oroho; Newton Medical Center’s Emergency Department Director, Dr. Anthony Brutico; Director of Clinical Services at The Center, Rachel Wallace; Certified Prevention Specialist at The Center, Annmarie Shafer and Recovery Advocacy Trainer with the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, NJ, Aaron Kucharski.
The Town Hall will conclude with participation from the public, between 10-11am, allowing people to share their experiences and hopefulness to combat opioid misuse. These statewide Town Halls are shedding a light on opioid misuse while offering strategies for prevention and awareness. Changing attitudes on addiction, reducing stigma and educating communities with information from the US Surgeon General’s recommendations are all part of the solution to reducing and preventing further opioid misuse. The public is invited to this free event to join others in our community in hopes of ultimately reducing and preventing opioid misuse.
Selected pieces of artwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2017 Heroin Addiction Art Exhibit will be on display for Town Hall attendees to reflect upon. In addition, local free resource packets prepared by The Center for Prevention and Counseling will be available to take-away for all attendees.
The artwork on display from the DEA Heroin Art Addiction Exhibit will also be featured at a free reception, open to the public on the evening of Friday, September, 22, 2017 at 7pm. This art exhibit reception will be held in honor of September as National Recovery Month in cooperation with Recovery Advocates of Sussex County. Everyone is invited to come and support each other as allies in recovery, learning about different recovery supports available in Sussex County.
Registration for the Knock Out Opiate Abuse Town Hall event can be found here: http://knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org/townhallseries/Sussex-county For more information about addiction prevention, treatment and recovery in Sussex County or to RSVP to the Heroin Addiction Art Exhibit Reception, go to www.centerforprevention.org or call (973)383-4787.