Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Students Awarded Grant to Lead Opioid Prevention Efforts in Newark

By: Lavene Gass

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) students Vincent Zhang, '25 and Riya Divekar '27 have been awarded the 2024-2025 Helping Hands Grant from the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APA). The $1,535 grant will directly support their mission to combat the opioid epidemic in Newark by educating the community on opioid overdose prevention and distributing life-saving naloxone kits. These initiatives are spearheaded by the Rutgers NJMS CARE Student Outreach Group, which focuses on raising awareness and providing tangible solutions to address the opioid crisis.

The student outreach group, which has been a part of NJMS for over five years, is a collaborative effort involving both current and former NJMS students, with valuable guidance from University Hospital’s Emergency Department. Zhang, an aspiring psychiatrist, and Divekar, who hopes to specialize in Surgery or Emergency Medicine, along with fellow peers, host community workshops that center around five key elements: education, personal stories of those affected by the opioid epidemic, naloxone distribution, hands-on training, and referrals for continued support. The awarded grant funding will help expand these outreach efforts, increasing both the reach and impact of the program.

“We can’t undo the damage caused by opioid overprescription, but we can focus on harm reduction and better healthcare outcomes for future patients,” said Divekar. “People often become passive bystanders because they don’t know how to help in a crisis. By training our community, we’re giving them the power to make a real difference when it matters most.”

Their initiative aims to reach over 100 Newark residents, providing critical resources to those most in need. Zhang and Divekar will also present their findings at the 2026 APA Annual Meeting, sharing insights from their efforts and the impact the grant has had on the local community.

“This grant is just one part of what makes the Rutgers NJMS CARE Student Outreach Program so impactful,” said Divekar. “We’re grateful to our faculty for their support, the State of New Jersey for supplying naloxone, and our fellow students who volunteer their time. This APA grant will help us expand our workshops and improve the educational resources we offer to our community.”

Through their tireless work, Zhang and Divekar, with the help of their fellow peers and advisors, are making a tangible difference in Newark, empowering the community with the tools and knowledge to save lives in the face of the opioid crisis.