Former NFL QB from New Jersey raising awareness of opioid abuse

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says five of the top 10 addictive substances in the United States are prescription drugs, and opioids are number four on the list.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there were 107,941 drug overdose deaths between 2019 and 2022. Their research found that synthetic opioids (other than methadone) were responsible for 68.4 percent of these drug overdose deaths.

Addiction doesn’t just affect adults. The reality is that the opioid epidemic is also a problem among teenagers in the United States.

There has been a significant increase in what the NIDA classifies as “accidental drug overdoses” among teenagers. Since 2015, drug overdoses among young people ages 15 to 19 in the United States have increased by 146 percent.

For high school athletes, there is more competition than ever to succeed in sports. These student-athletes work to earn athletic and academic scholarships to attend colleges and universities, and some feel pressure to do “whatever it takes” to earn these coveted scholarships.

This former NFL quarterback is committed to raising awareness about opioid abuse

The Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program was created to educate high school students and athletes about the dangers of substance 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 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 Middle Township Performing Arts Center featuring 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 keynote speaker for the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Program and travels throughout New Jersey educating high school athletes about the dangers of opioid abuse. Lucas shares the story of his battle with opioid abuse and road to recovery to help teens avoid the hardships Ray and others endured.

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 at Cape May Court House. The PAC is located next to Middle Township High School on Penkethman Way.

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