The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) is inviting residents in Warren County and beyond to “Squash the Stigma” of substance abuse disorder in advance of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31.

Participating is fun: between now and Aug. 31, fill water balloons and write stigmatizing words or beliefs on each balloon in marker. Then, record yourself squashing the balloons on the ground!

Post your video to social media and nominate others to do the same, using the hashtag #SquashTheStigma.

According to PDFNJ, “the social stigma associated with the disease of addiction damages a person’s self-esteem, their relationship with loved ones, and often hinders those who have substance use disorder from seeking treatment.”

Another way PDFNJ is breaking down this stigma of addiction is through the Knock Out Opioid Abuse Our Stories Campaign that enables those who have been impacted by addiction to share their personal experiences and help others better understand the disease of addiction.