As the opioid epidemic continues to impact the state, addiction and related issues are being covered exhaustively by the media. Much of this coverage focuses on the increasing number of individuals suffering with substance use disorders and the drug-related overdoses that unfortunately occur each day, while rarely touching on the free treatment and recovery resources available to New Jersey residents. R&J worked to insert NJ Connect for Recovery into this conversation by putting together a thought leadership piece to position Claudia Beljean, Insurance Specialist for NJ Connect for Recovery, as an expert on navigating the insurance landscape and selecting a treatment provider. The piece also elevated awareness of NJ Connect for Recovery as a resource for individuals coping with their own substance use disorders and families coping with the substance use disorder of a loved one.

Leveraging existing relationships with Gannett Papers, the R&J team was able to pitch the piece to the managing editor for placement in an upcoming spread on the ongoing opioid epidemic. The piece provides valuable information to the public about how to select a substance use disorder treatment provider and how to navigate the levels of insurance, while raising the visibility of NJ Connect for Recovery and its free, confidential call line and its vital support services.

The article appeared online and in print in both the Courier News and the Home News Tribune.