East Windsor Township Procaims “Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day"
Published on October 12, 2016
Mayor Janice S. Mironov issued a Proclamation recognizing October 6, 2016 as “Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day,” joined by the East Windsor Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse Coordinator Deputy Mayor Peter Yeager and Alliance Members and the Mercer County Municipal Alliance Coordinator.
Mayor Mironov’s Proclamation notes that “Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day,” in partnership with other groups for a Drug-Free New Jersey, is a statewide event geared to raise awareness to individuals and families, medical professionals, and community leaders regarding the potential dependency on prescribed pain medicine and its link to heroin abuse. The Mayoral Proclamation recognizes, “New Jersey is in the midst of a life threatening opiate abuse epidemic. In New Jersey alone, over 2.75 million prescriptions for highly addictive opioids were prescribed to children, friends and family members, many times without any information of their addictive qualities. Drug-Free New Jersey has revealed that opioid use prior to high school graduation increases the risk of future opioid misuse after high school by 33%.”
Mayor Mironov stated, ““Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day” has a twofold purpose, first is to educate individuals and families about the potential addictive qualities of opioid pain medicines and their link to heroin abuse rates in New Jersey. Second is to outreach to physicians about this important public issue with encouragement to identify alternative treatment and prescription options. We all need to become better educated and to support initiatives designed to raise awareness about opiate abuse in New Jersey and take steps to prevent addiction.”
Deputy Mayor Peter Yeager, who serves as the coordinator for the East Windsor Municipal Alliance, thanked the Mayor and Council for helping to promote the day and thereby increase awareness of this crisis, which will ultimately serve to save lives. We all need to be involved in addressing this important challenge.”
PHOTOGRAPH:
Mayor Mironov proclaimed October 6 as “Knock Out Opiate Abuse Day” and presented a Mayoral Proclamation to East Windsor Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse. Pictured (from left to right) are: Council Member and East Windsor Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse Member John Zoller; Deputy Mayor and Coordinator for the East Windsor Municipal Alliance Peter Yeager; Mayor Janice S. Mironov; Mercer County Municipal Alliance Coordinator Edward Meara and East Windsor Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse Member Al Grupper.
