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March 6, 2019Catholic Charities, Straight and Narrow is one of the largest nonprofit Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers in the country. Each day, we help hundreds of people in need. Our staff work diligently to combat the opioid epidemic facing our state and nation. Yesterday, we were proud to participate in Black Balloon Day.
Black Balloon Day became a national and international event, bringing awareness to overdose deaths. As with many things with the opioid epidemic, Black Balloon Day began with a family's' loss.
Diane and Lauren Hurley began Black Balloon Day in remembrance of Greg Tremblay. Tremblay, a father of four, died of an overdose when he was 38 years old on March 6, 2015.Black Balloon Day is a day to honor and raise awareness of overdose victims. .
Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the US, with 70,200 lethal drug overdoses in 2017. Opioid addiction is driving this epidemic, with 47,700+ overdose deaths related to prescription opioids and illicit opioids (heroin and illicit fentanyl). Americans are more likely to die of an opioid overdose than they are from a car accident or by guns (homicide/suicide).
In 2018, New Jersey’s drug death toll set a record for the fourth state year, and now stands nearly four times what it was a decade ago. Straight and Narrow works each day to save lives.
Black Balloon Day has become a national and international movement. The Catholic Charities, Straight and Narrow Family was proud to join in this movement for a moment of prayer, reflection and remembrance.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, please call Straight and Narrow at: (973) 345-6000
