TOMS RIVER – With their commitment to fighting the statewide opioid epidemic, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is teaming up with the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) to launch free opioid prescribing education to healthcare providers in the county.
A total of 500 scholarships will be awarded by the Prosecutor’s Office for Ocean County prescribers to participate in PDFNJ’s continuing education webinar, “Do No Harm: Exploring Strategies for Safer Prescribing of Opioids.”
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is the first in the state to collaborate on providing continued education to local prescribers.
The webinar will consist of medical, law enforcement and legal experts speaking of the impact the opioid epidemic has on New Jersey and giving providing information on how to safely and responsibly prescribe opioids to patients.
In addition, the webinar fulfills New Jersey’s requirement that prescribers receive one hour of continuing education requirement concerning prescription opioids to renew their licenses.
“Prosecutor Billhimer and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office have been a tremendous partner in the effort to address the opioid epidemic in New Jersey,” PDFNJ Executive Director Angelo Valente said. “From its innovative recovery programs to engaging the business community, the Prosecutor’s Office has emerged as a leader in this fight. Now, by making prescriber education more accessible to providers in the county, the office is providing a vital prevention service that will positively impact county residents.”
“The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey has been a trusted ally in our ongoing battle against opioid abuse,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. “We are always looking for opportunities to leverage our resources when it comes to opioid education and substance abuse prevention. This unique approach, providing continuing medical education to prescribers is a natural intersection for law enforcement and the medical community. This collaborative approach is essential in our seemingly never-ending battle against opioid abuse.”
PDFNJ and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (BCBSNJ) launched the webinar in June of 2019 and has since provided crucial information to responsible prescribing practices in order to keep patients safe from opioid misuse and addiction. Nearly 2.6 million patients have benefitted from the knowledge the course provides.
“Educating medical professionals on the risks and proper ways to treat pain and prescribe opioids is crucial to combatting the opioid epidemic our state and country are facing,” PDFNJ Executive Director Angelo Valente said. “Medical professionals in New Jersey are receiving better education on prescribing practices through this webinar, and that knowledge has helped them to make the best decisions for their patients.”
The webinar is specifically customized for healthcare professionals including doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, residents, fellows and medical students. The accredited curriculum is accessible through the website: KnockOutOpioidAbuse.DrugFreeNJ.org/NJSafeRx.
