By: Richard L. Smith
As New Jersey marks International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, state health officials are renewing their commitment to ending the overdose crisis by expanding access to evidence-based harm reduction services and addiction care.
According to Governor Phil Murphy, who issued a proclamation designating August 31, 2024, as Overdose Awareness Day, the day serves not only to remember those lost to drug overdoses but also to support their loved ones and take action to prevent future tragedies.
In 2023, preliminary data from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) revealed that more than seven New Jersey residents per day succumbed to overdose.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an estimated 107,543 overdose deaths in 2023—a slight decline from the previous year, marking the first decrease since 2018.
Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston, M.D., highlighted the ongoing impact of the opioid epidemic, particularly in Black and Brown communities, where overdose rates continue to rise.
“While New Jersey’s overall overdose deaths have begun to decline, the disparities in access to life-saving medications like buprenorphine and methadone in these communities are unacceptable," said Baston.
To address these disparities, New Jersey has been expanding its Harm Reduction Centers—community-based programs that provide safer use supplies, such as naloxone and sterile syringes, and offer referrals to substance use disorder treatment and other critical services.
Last week, the NJDOH authorized the state's 50th Harm Reduction Center, bringing the total number of sites to 28 across 20 counties.
These efforts are part of a larger investment by the state, which includes more than $24 million from opioid settlement funds over the next two years, supplemented by $4.5 million from the FY2025 state budget.
This funding will support harm reduction services across the state, with approximately $16 million allocated to qualified organizations through a Request for Applications process.
In January, Governor Murphy signed legislation expanding the range of harm reduction supplies that can be distributed by these centers, including life-saving tools like xylazine test strips.
The new law exempts these supplies from criminal penalties when provided by authorized centers.
Additionally, the NJDOH is developing a new statewide platform to streamline access to addiction treatment and harm reduction services, particularly for individuals facing transportation challenges or a lack of nearby providers.
All of these initiatives are part of Governor Murphy’s comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to addressing the overdose crisis and ensuring that every New Jersey resident has access to the care and resources they need.