This Former NFL QB From New Jersey Raising Opioid Abuse Awareness In South Jersey

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says five of the Top Ten Addictive Substances in the United States are prescription drugs and Opiods are number four on the list.

There were 107,941 drug overdose deaths from 2019 to 2022 according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Their research found that Synthetic Opioids (other than Methadone) accounted for 68.4 percent of those drug overdose deaths.

Addiction is not something that just impacts adults. The reality is the Opioid Epidemic is an issue as well with Teenagers in the United States.

There has been a significant increase in what the NIDA classifies as Unintentional Drug Overdose Death Rates Among Teenagers.  Since 2015, Drug Overdoses by Young People ages 15 - 19 Years Old in the United States has increased by 146 percent.

There is more competition than ever for High School Athletes to be successful in sports. These student-athletes are working to earn Athletic and Academic Scholarships to attend Colleges and Universities, and some feel the pressure to do "whatever it takes" to attain these coveted scholarships.

This Former NFL Quarterback Is Speaking Out To Raise Opioid Abuse Awareness

The Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program was established to educate High School Student-Athletes about the dangers of drug abuse. The Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program is a partnership between the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and a Drug-Free New Jersey.

According to a Press Release from The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Initiative will host an event at the Performing Arts Center of Middle Township with former NFL Quarterback Ray Lucas speaking to High School Athletes.

Born in Harrison, New Jersey, Ray Lucas was a standout Quarterback at Rutgers University before embarking on an eight-year NFL career. Lucas played for the New England Patriots (1996), New York Jets (1997-2000), Miami Dolphins (2001-2002), and Baltimore Ravens (2003).

Lucas is the headline speaker for the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program and is traveling around New Jersey to educate High School Student-Athletes about the dangers of opioid misuse. Lucas is sharing the story of his battle with Opioid Abuse and the journey to Recovery to help teenagers avoid the hardships that Ray and others have been through.

The Knock Out Opioid Abuse Initiative will host its event with Ray Lucas on Thursday, December 5th, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Performing Arts Center in Cape May Court House. The PAC is adjacent to Middle Township High School on Penkethman Way.

Ray Lucas is part of an exclusive list of Quarterbacks from New Jersey who have started games in the National Football League. Check out these 13 QBs who have started games in the NFL: