Freeholder Jim Jefferson gave the welcoming remarks at the Opioid Prevention Playbook workshop on Friday, Sept. 27 that was sponsored by Southwest Council and held at Rowan College of South Jersey, Gloucester County campus.
The workshop was geared to coaches, trainers, nurses, teachers and athletic directors to help them detect, understand and prevent substance abuse in teens.
Justin Wroblewski of Liberty Wellness was the keynote for the workshop. He was a local youth athlete who found himself addicted to opioids following a sports injury. Now in recovery for more than six years, he shared his experiences and insights into prevention and intervention for teen opioid abuse.
Freeholder Jefferson said, “we need to protect our youth athletes who can be at risk of opioid addiction that often begins with a sports related injury. This workshop was a great tool to educate our region’s coaches, trainers and all those involved in education and athletics how to see the signs of substance abuse and teach students of the short- and long-term impact of substance abuse.”