The Essex County Opiod Abuse Prevention Task Force and New Directions Behavioral Health Center plans to host the first annual Opiod Awareness Walk on Sunday, Nov. 11.

There is a national opioid epidemic in America. More than 65,000 lives were lost in 2016, and more than 72,000 in 2017.  In New Jersey, the county with the most overdose deaths is Essex County.

The walk will go through Essex County on Bloomfield Avenue.  Walk 10 miles, from Newark to West Caldwell, or just walk one mile, from Verona to Caldwell.   

To register, call Robin at (862) 485-8811 or email rlhealthguide@gmail.com.  

The start venue in Verona and the stop venue in Caldwell will soon be determined.  Each venue will host a speaker, refreshments, music, crafts. Professionals in the field of prevention, intervention, addiction, treatment and recovery will be on hand to answer questions, and informational material will be available.   

In addition to Caldwell and Verona, there will be start/stop venues in Newark, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and West Caldwell.   

Volunteers are needed to work the sign-in tables at each of the seven venues.  Food, beverage and financial donations are also needed.