Lt. Governor Guadagno, Religious Leaders Gather to Address NJ's Opiate Abuse Epidemic at Faith-Based Do No Harm Symposium Today


MORRISTOWN, NJ--(Marketwired - Sep 16, 2015) -

WHAT:  

Faith-based leaders from across New Jersey will gather with state leaders including Lt. Governor Guadagno and DEA-NJ Special Agent-in-Charge Carl Kotowski, at Bethel AME Church, Morristown, to discuss solutions to the epidemic of opiate abuse. The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey's (PDFNJ) Do No Harm Symposium will feature experts from the substance abuse prevention and treatment communities, among the scheduled speakers.

WHEN:

Wednesday, September 16, 2015
9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Lt. Governor Guadagno will arrive at 1pm.

WHERE:  

Bethel AME Church, 59 Spring Street, Morristown, NJ.

The abuse of prescription drugs is a serious problem in New Jersey. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic. Many people, particularly teens, believe the misuse of prescription drugs is safer than abusing illicit drugs because they are prescribed by a healthcare professional and dispensed by a pharmacist. The abuse of these legal painkilling medications has triggered an increase in the abuse of the illegal versions of these substances, specifically heroin, by young people which costs less and delivers a stronger high. In New Jersey, law enforcement reports, heroin is easily accessible in all communities, urban, suburban, and rural and we're seeing a greater number of addictions to heroin as a result of addictions that stem from prescription painkillers.

Visit drugfreenj.org/FaithBasedDoNoHarm for additional information.

Contact Information:

Contact:
Angela Conover
Media Director
Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey
Phone: 2019161030
E-Mail: conover@drugfreenj.org