“ESSEX COUNTY OPIOID USE PREVENTON TASK FORCE                              RLHEALTHGUIDE@GMAIL.COM   862 485-8811

Dear Parents and Guardians,

TRC has launched an Opioid Abuse Reduction Task Force (OTF).  The OTF will meet monthly to discuss the opioid epidemic, the initiatives presently in place and the areas that still need to be addressed.   Our OTF is modeled after the Morris County Opioid Task Force, which has had some positive results.

We are inviting residents, adolescents too,  as well as local, county and state government officials and law enforcement, Municipal Alliances, civic organizations, schools, clergy, pharmacies, prevention and treatment and pediatric dentists, doctors and other healthcare service providers.  There is nobody who is not affected by the opioid epidemic … and it takes everybody to eradicate it.

Our first meeting was hosted by Dr. Durr and The Restoration Center Inc in Newark.  Our next meeting on July 17th  is hosted by Mayor Ann Dassing and  The Borough of Caldwell. Please let us know if your municipality would like to host our next monthly meetings.  

The opioid crisis has received much attention in the United States. More people than ever are dying from opioid overdose; in 2017, over 64,000 people were killed by opioids. In October 2017, President Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency and pledged resources to address it, as President Obama did in 2016.  Here in N.J. both Governor Murphy and Governor Christie have done the same.  The County of Essex has the highest rate of opioid deaths in N.J.

All adolescents are at risk for misusing opioids, there are a wide range of factors that can either increase the risk of prescription drug misuse or help protect against it. There are a number of concrete ways that parents, family members, and other concerned adults can help prevent opioid misuse among adolescents. The fact that the adolescent brain is still growing means that teens are vulnerable to addiction, but the adolescent brain also is ripe for learning healthy habits and behavior   (US Department of Health and Human Services)

JOIN US ON TUESDAY, JULY 17TH                                                                                                                    To listen, learn, ask questions and join in the discussion of keeping your child healthy and safe from opioid use. This discussion needs to begin when your children are young, don’t wait until high school to discuss the ill-effects of opioids and other drugs.  

 5PM LIGHT DINNER, 5:30PM MEETING BEGINS

CALDWELL UNIVERSITY                                                                                                        Bloomfield Avenue Caldwell Alumni Theater

Contact Robin to R.S.V.P  rlhealthguide@gmail.com  (862) 485-8811 “