By: Najla Alexander
Middlesex County officials announced that the county is expanding its ongoing commitment to combating the nation’s opioid epidemic through educational content for healthcare professionals, including doctors of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, residents, fellows, and medical students.
The County is partnering with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) to empower healthcare providers in the County with free opioid prescribing education, Middlesex County authorities stated. 
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s office is offering healthcare professionals the opportunity to participate in PDFNJ’s continuing education seminar: “Do No Harm: Exploring Strategies for Safer Prescribing of Opioids” at no cost. This webinar features input from experts across various professions, including legal experts, law enforcement, and medical professionals.
This program also fulfills New Jersey’s requirement of one hour of continuing education for prescribers to renew their licenses, Middlesex County officials said. To locate the webinar, discover other educational content, and secure professional credit, visit www.njsaferx.com.
“Middlesex County is taking bold, proactive steps to address the opioid crisis head-on with innovative, impactful, and convenient solutions,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios.
“Through the Middlesex County Opioid Settlement Advisory Council, we ensure that every dollar we receive for a total of 18 years from New Jersey’s settlement is used strategically to combat this devastating epidemic. The Prosecutor’s program to educate prescribers augments our collective efforts to support residents on their path to wellness.”
“Addressing the nationwide opioid epidemic takes a whole community, and our local medical professionals have a responsibility to ensure that medicine is responsibly prescribed and allocated to those in need,” said Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda.
“I want to thank our friends at the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey for their tireless work, and together, we can work to end opioid addiction in New Jersey, Middlesex County, and the country.”
“Working with the County Prosecutor’s Offices and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey to develop trainings like this helps address one of the key drivers of this epidemic. Preventing opioid dependency in the first place is part of our comprehensive effort to overcome the opioid epidemic,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin.
“It’s imperative that our healthcare professionals have the knowledge and the tools they need to treat their patients with the best care possible.”
Middlesex County is committed to providing residents with the resources and services they need to counter the ongoing opioid epidemic, authorities said.
According to Middlesex County officials, in October, the Middlesex County Opioid Settlement Advisory and Implementation Council (MOSAIC) and the Board of County Commissioners led and funded a new initiative in Woodbridge and New Brunswick with fully automated, 24-hour healthcare kiosks.
Middlesex County residents now have free, around-the-clock access to essential health and wellness supplies and information on treatment options for individuals impacted by the opioid epidemic, officials say.
For more information and to find vetted services that fit an individual’s needs, visit middlesexcountynj.gov/services.