Knock Out Opioid Abuse initiative with former NFL QB Ray Lucas returns to Morris County
KINNELON BOROUGH, NJ (Morris County) — Student-athletes at Kinnelon High School will receive crucial education on the risks of prescription opioids from a quarterback with first-hand knowledge of their devastating impact.
Former NFL player and New Jersey native Ray Lucas will headline a program at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 19, at Kinnelon High School, 121 Kinnelon Rd, Kinnelon Borough. The event is part of the Knock Out Opioid Abuse initiative, organized by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, in collaboration with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), Prevention is Key, and State Senator Anthony M. Bucco. Senator Bucco will provide opening remarks.
This initiative aims to engage high school students and educate them about the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of maintaining physical and mental health. High school athletes are particularly vulnerable to opioid misuse, often due to injuries that require pain management.
“The opioid epidemic continues to take a devastating toll on New Jersey communities, and it’s essential that we engage with young people to address this crisis,” said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ. “Through education and powerful personal stories like that of Ray Lucas, we can provide students with the tools and information they need to make informed decisions and protect their futures.”
Lucas, a former standout quarterback at Rutgers who enjoyed an eight-year career in the NFL, will share insights from his battle with opioid misuse, which began following his professional playing days, and his journey to recovery. Lucas has spoken candidly about his struggles and focuses on empowering youth to make informed decisions about prescription medications.
In a recent 12-month survey by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, 12 percent of male athletes and 8 percent of female athletes had used prescription opioids. A Monitoring the Future survey also found that adolescent participants in high-injury sports had 50 percent higher odds of nonmedical use of prescription opioids than adolescents who did not participate in these types of sports. According to NJ CARES, there were 1,766 suspected overdose deaths in 2024, and in Morris County, there were 44 suspected drug-related deaths
Supported through grants by Horizon’s philanthropic arm, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, the Knock Out Opioid Abuse initiative is now in its fifth phase. The initiative began with the Town Hall Series held for all 21 New Jersey counties in 2017 and 2018.
The program expanded in 2019 and 2020 to include a prescriber education webinar, parent education through PDFNJ’s 5th Grade Parent Alert, and community outreach via a statewide awareness public service campaign. The second phase also included community town halls, which were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and held as webinars in the spring and fall of 2020. The third and fourth phases of the partnership have focused on student-athletes and featured NJSIAA in a collaborative role. Lucas has served as the keynote speaker at 16 events throughout the state.
For more information, visit knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org.
