On Wednesday, public health, recovery, and racial justice organizations sent a letter to the Senate Budget Committee, along with legislative leadership and Governor Murphy, urging them to oppose Senate Bill 3325, which proposes harsh new penalties for fentanyl. The bill will be heard by the Senate Budget Committee at its hearing today at 1pm. “The … Read more
Yesterday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first ever over-the-counter form of naloxone. This approval applies only to the 4mg nasal spray manufactured by Emergent Biosolutions, which is significantly more expensive than other more affordable versions, including intramuscular naloxone. In response, New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition (NJHRC) released the following statement.Jenna Mellor, … Read more
Earlier today in New Jersey’s State of the State address, Governor Murphy announced the launch of Naloxone365. This new program will enable every pharmacy in New Jersey to provide 4mg nasal spray naloxone anonymously and for free to any resident who requests it, at any time throughout the year. When the Murphy Administration started the … Read more
Without access to harm reduction supplies, New Jerseyans who inject drugs are at risk of infection, hospitalization, and preventable death, according to a new report released today by New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition (NJHRC). The report, Preventable Harms: Injection Drug-Use Related Infections in New Jersey, reviews data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project and … Read more
Today on International Overdose Awareness Day, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Department of Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman, and Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli joined Vital Strategies and advocates from Newark Community Street Team and the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition to unveil the first installation of a traveling national Overdose Memorial. Located at Newark … Read more
New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission is hosting public hearings on how revenue from the Social Equity Excise Fee should be used. Learn more about how to testify here, and check out talking points on equitable investments here. Below is testimony from New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition’s Jenna Mellor recommending how revenue from the cannabis Social Equity … Read more
Today, Governor Phil Murphy announced the nomination of Matthew Platkin to serve as the next Attorney General for New Jersey. The nomination of Mr. Platkin to be the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in the state comes at a time when New Jersey is perpetuating a punitive and costly drug war as it continues to experience … Read more
Today, Governor Murphy signed into law far-reaching legislation to expand harm reduction services in New Jersey. The Syringe Access Bill (S-3009/A-4847) removes authority to approve and close syringe access programs (SAPs) from local municipalities and places that authority with the New Jersey Department of Health, aligning SAPs with other public health services. The Syringe Decrim … Read more
January 10, 2022 — Today, the New Jersey Legislature passed far-reaching legislation, sponsored by Senator Joseph Vitale and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri-Huttle, to expand access to syringe services, which are essential public health tools to end the overdose crisis. The Syringe Access Bill (S-3009/A-4847) will expand access to essential syringe access programs (SAP) throughout the state … Read more
Earlier today, the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees approved the Syringe Access Bill (S-3009/A-4847), sending the proposal to the full Legislature for Monday’s voting session. The bill would remove the restrictive municipal ordinance requirement that limits access to lifesaving syringe services in New Jersey. In response to the bill advancing through both committees, the New … Read more
