Night of Conversation Shines Light on Substance Abuse and Family Discussions – TAPinto.net
BLOOMFIELD, NJ – Essex County’s second annual Night of Conversation, a family event intended to promote open and honest discussions about substance abuse, was held Tuesday Evening at Bloomfield Middle School.
An audience of teens, pre-teens and parents gathered for the program sponsored by the Bloomfield Municipal Alliance Committee (BMAC).
“Our Night of Conversation committee, which includes Essex County’s ADAPT (Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Prevention Team), the Bloomfield Health Department, Bloomfield Police Department and the Township of Bloomfield, helped us coordinate this night,” said BMAC Coordinator Maya Lordo.
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The YMCA of Montclair, the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, and the Essex County Division of Community Health Services also sponsored the event.
The presentation began with a skit by the New Jersey Mental Health Players, a performance troupe that uses theatrical improvisation and role playing to bring the realities of mental illness to life.
“As the father of two young children, I commend BMAC for being proactive in organizing forums like Night of Conversation to help our community understand the issues facing teens and their families,” said Mayor Michael J. Venezia. “BMAC also organized great forums like Tame the Teen and brought in Mallory’s Army in October to address issues like anxiety and bullying that affect entire families.”
A panel discussion followed with parenting educator and coach Helaina Altabef, a representative from the Bloomfield Police Department and a mental health expert.
New Jersey saw 2,750 drug overdose fatalities in 2017—approaching eight per day on average, according to data from the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner. That number represented an increase of approximately 24 percent over the 2016 death toll of 2,221 drug overdose deaths (approximately six per day).
In 2016, Essex County had the highest number of overdose deaths in the state.
“Parents and guardians are the first line of prevention in order to stop youth substance use and abuse before it even begins,” said ADAPT Manager Joel Torres, who is also a Hudson County Freeholder. “Essex County’s Night of Conversation is an opportunity to become empowered to have conversations with your children and loved ones about drugs, alcohol and the effects of abuse and addiction.”
In 2015, Dr. Oz hosted a National Night of Conversation to encourage parents to talk to their kids about drugs at the dinner table in the hopes of removing the stigmas associated with substance abuse.
“I want to thank everyone for making a choice to come here tonight,” Lordo added. “I’m very happy to see some young adults here. Some of the conversations tonight might not be the ones you want to have at the dinner table or the holiday table, but sometimes they need to be had.”
Early last year, the New Jersey State Legislature passed a joint resolution that was signed into law, designating one Night of Conversation each November to discuss drug abuse.