RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery Hosts Substance Abuse Disorder Speaker Series with Performance of George Street Playhouse’s Musical ANYTOWN

Long Branch, New Jersey— RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery, in partnership with the City of Long Branch, the Long Branch School District, Long Branch H.E.A.R.S. and Brookdale Community College, will host a performance of George Street Playhouse’s musical ANYTOWN on February 6^th from 6-8pm at Long Branch High School. The performance is open to the public and attendance is free with registration.

Anytown is an original musical developed in response to the devastating impact prescription opioid misuse, heroin, and fentanyl have had on communities throughout New Jersey.  Presenting the seriousness of this national crisis as a cautionary tale, this musical is a great educational opportunity for teens and parents that empowers students with the knowledge to make positive decisions to avoid opioid use and help them understand the dangerous consequences of substance abuse disorder. Working in partnership with the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and RWJBarnabas Health, this original musical was created from interviews with opioid prevention experts, families with children struggling with this disease, individuals recovering from opioid abuse, doctors, law enforcement officers, students, and educators.

The performance will be followed by a brief panel discussion about the impact of substance use disorder on families, schools and communities with Jenna Reidy, Recovery Specialist; Dr. Michael Salvatore, Long Branch Superintendent of Schools; David Perez, MSW, Long Branch Library; and Desiree Whyte, Monmouth County Office of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

For more information and to register, please email kendalldarling.murphy@rwjbh.org.

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About RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH) and Rutgers University are forming New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system. The public-private partnership is dedicated to providing high quality patient care, leading-edge research, and world-class health and medical education to transform and advance health care in New Jersey. The partnership aligns RWJBH, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and Rutgers Health, the clinical arm and brand of Rutgers University. This alliance will result in a multi-specialty group comprised of more than 2,500 practitioners – one of the largest medical groups in the country. The partnership also aligns RWJBH with Rutgers’ education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only NCI-designated cancer center, and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

RWJBarnabas Health covers a service area of nine counties with five million people and is the state’s largest private employer. The system includes eleven acute care hospitals, three acute care children’s hospitals and a leading pediatric rehabilitation hospital with its multiple outpatient centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, a medical group, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.

The RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery (IFPR) is a leader in New Jersey for substance use disorder focused prevention and recovery support services. IFPR has almost 30 years of experience providing programs and services implemented by a team of highly skilled and incredibly passionate professionals. Through comprehensive programs offered across NJ, IFPR perpetuates real change by facilitating effective, long-term impact which creates prevention and recovery prepared communities. IFPR is also recognized for its tobacco cessation services, as well as its Training Institute.