In August, the student-athletes at Jefferson Township High School had the privilege of hearing from Ray Lucas, a former NFL player and New Jersey native. Lucas shared his powerful journey through opioid addiction to opioids during his athletic career, offering valuable insights and inspiration. The event was made possible through PIK’s “Tackling Opioids Through Prevention” (TOP)  initiative, bringing awareness about the impact of opioid painkillers on young athletes and  collaboration with the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s  “Knock Out Opioid Abuse” program. Megan Gaeb, PIK’s Preventionist and TOP Coordinator, helped coordinate the event to raise awareness about this critical issue.. The student-athletes were highly engaged throughout the event and came prepared with insightful questions about Lucas’s journey. The overarching messages emphasized the importance of recognizing that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and the critical need to prioritize and advocate for one’s health. A few members of the football team were particularly inspired and stayed afterward to speak with Ray Lucas personally.