Communities across New Jersey will mark the 11th annual Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day on October 6, an awareness effort organized by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) in cooperation with the Governor's Council on Substance Use Disorder and the state Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. This year's observance places added emphasis on opioid safety and safer pain management for older adults, alongside PDFNJ's Healthy Aging Campaign resources.
New Jersey recorded 1,312 suspected drug overdose deaths in 2025, down 27 percent from 2024, according to the state's Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner, including 365 deaths among residents 55 and older. Nationally, 36 percent of adults 65 and older experience chronic pain, and about 12.8 percent fill an outpatient opioid prescription annually. Local events include a Union City outreach with Congressman Rob Menendez and St. Francis Academy students distributing bilingual educational flyers. New Jersey lawmakers have permanently designated October 6 for the observance.
