Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Conference Tackles Opioid Misuse in Youth Sports
2024年4月20日 - 5:41AM
The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), along with
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and the Opioid
Education Foundation of America, hosted the "Keeping New Jersey
Youth Athletes Safe" conference at the Golden Nugget Hotel &
Casino in Atlantic City on Friday. The event gathered coaches,
athletic directors, teachers, school nurses, and others involved in
youth sports to discuss the link between athletics and opioid
misuse.
"It's essential to educate those involved in youth sports about
the potential for opioid misuse among student-athletes," said
Angelo Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ. "The purpose of this
conference is to safeguard the well-being of our young athletes and
equip adults with the knowledge to make a difference."
The conference provided an in-depth understanding of the opioid
crisis and its impact on athletes from elementary to college age,
exploring alternative pain treatments and effective prevention
strategies for opioid misuse among student-athletes. Ray Lucas, a
former star quarterback for Rutgers who had an eight-year career in
the NFL, shared his journey through opioid misuse and recovery,
underscoring the critical need for awareness in managing
sports-related injuries and pain. Also featured at the event was
Dr. Andrew Kolodny, Medical Director of Opioid Policy Research at
the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. Kolodny, also
the executive director of Physicians for Responsible Opioid
Prescribing, discussed the opioid epidemic that is impacting
families and communities across the country.
“The Opioid Education Foundation is dedicated to educating about
the risks of opioids and alternatives that exist for pain and
injuries,” said Elaine Pozycki, founder of the Opioid Education
Foundation of America. “I lost my son Steven to an overdose after
he became addicted to the pain medicine he was prescribed for a
sports injury in college - and I applaud the coaches, athletic
trainers, teachers and parents who came out to learn about how they
can protect the young athletes in their lives. My hope is that they
look to alternatives once they understand the dangers of
opioids.”
The conference also featured a panel including Dr. Michael
Goione of Navesink Chiropractic Center, a team chiropractor for
Monmouth University and Georgian Court University; Laurie Smith, an
assistant director at Acenda Integrated Health; and Christina
Emrich, an athletic trainer and assistant athletic director at Red
Bank Regional High School. Each offered a wealth of experience and
expertise in the field.
"This conference has significantly contributed to the
ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic within youth
athletics in New Jersey, marking a pivotal moment in our continued
commitment to keeping our young athletes safe and informed,”
Valente said.
###
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 226 advertising and public
relations awards from national, regional and statewide media
organizations.
Lisa Batitto
Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey
news@drugfreenj.org