Many communities across the United States are facing the effects of the opioid crisis, cutting lives short and impacting families. In New Jersey, the country's most densely populated state, the effects of the crisis are taking effect.
Since the opioid epidemic is constantly evolving, it’s worth taking a deeper look at New Jersey, including recent efforts to combat the crisis.
Historical context: How opioids affect NJ residents
There have been over 1,000 suspected opioid-related overdose deaths in New Jersey in 2024 alone. NJ drug overdose deaths had been surging for years, reaching a high of 3,144 in 2021. They finally fell significantly in 2023, but that does not mean that the fight against the opioid crisis in NJ is over.
Previously, prescription opioids and heroin were the primary drivers of drug overdose deaths in the US. Today, however, the synthetic opioid fentanyl is the biggest concern. Opioid deaths in New Jersey likely reflect the nationwide trend that fatal overdoses involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl make up the largest percentage by far of overdose deaths. In 2019, 75% of the people in NJ who died of drug overdoses had fentanyl in their system, compared to 3% in 2012. Tackling the opioid crisis in New Jersey will require a plan to address the abundance of fentanyl and similar synthetic opioids in the illicit drug supply.
Opioids in urban areas, including effects of proximity to NYC
Newark — New Jersey's most populous city — is in Essex County, which has the most drug-related deaths by far. The city has some of the highest overdose rates state-wide. Drug overdose death rates tend to be higher in urban counties compared to rural counties.
Many of the people living in New Jersey live within a reasonable commute of New York City, which may open up additional avenues for accessing illicit opioids. Illicit fentanyl, in particular, is often smuggled into the US and distributed to major metropolitan centers like NYC. Even those who just live near NYC rather than within it may still feel the effects of an influx of illicit fentanyl. A positive note is that local efforts to address the opioid crisis in New York may also help neighbors in New Jersey.
People experiencing homelessness are disproportionately likely to live in urban areas like Newark or NYC. The homeless population is also more likely to suffer fatal overdoses or need hospital treatment for concerns related to opioids. This intersection between the opioid crisis and houselessness in urban areas may contribute to the higher overdose deaths figures in these areas.
Opioids in more rural parts of the state
Rural NJ counties had fewer suspected drug deaths than urban ones, but some had higher drug death rates when adjusted for population size. For example, in 2022, Bergen County, NJ's largest county by population, had around 19 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 residents. Cumberland, a much more rural NJ county, had 47.5 drug overdose deaths over the same period.
Living in a rural area in New Jersey does not keep people from feeling the effects of the opioid crisis. And, despite struggling with opioid overdoses and deaths, rural communities often do not have sufficient access to opioid addiction treatment.
Recent initiatives
New Jersey officials and activists have been taking action for years to combat the opioid crisis. Recently, developments like a new Naloxone program and greater funding for programs through the NJ Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund have offered hope for continuing the downward trend of NJ overdose deaths.
State rules around naloxone administration
Naloxone, a lifesaving medication that reverses the effects of opioid overdoses, was once somewhat difficult for the average person to obtain. It could be expensive, and different states and pharmacies had different requirements for giving out the medication.
Now, many states, including New Jersey, have implemented programs to increase access to naloxone, helping to save lives. In the first year alone, New Jersey distributed over 132,000 doses of free naloxone through the Naloxone365 initiative under Governor Phil Murphy. The program was groundbreaking in the United States, and several other states have since followed suit in providing access to free naloxone.
Under New Jersey's program, anyone 14 years old or older can go into a participating pharmacy and receive a two-dose kit of naloxone for free. They do not need to provide a prescription or even their name to access the naloxone. The goal of New Jersey's Naloxone365 and similar initiatives is to make naloxone more accessible so that, in the event of a suspected opioid overdose, someone at the scene is able to quickly administer the medication.
The 664 participating New Jersey pharmacies that carry Narcan include:
- ACME Markets Pharmacy
- CVS Pharmacy
- Rite Aid Pharmacy
- Shop Rite Pharmacy
- Sam's Club Pharmacy
- Sav-on Pharmacy
- Stop & Shop Pharmacy
- Walgreens Pharmacy
- Walmart Pharmacy
As NJ Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said, "this nation-leading program will grant many more chances to save lives and more chances for recovery." Between January 1 and July 31, 2024, naloxone was administered 6,598 times in New Jersey. Each naloxone administration has the potential to prevent a fatal opioid overdose.
Harm reduction facilities and programs
New Jersey, together with other states, sued opioid manufacturers and distributors for their role in the opioid crisis. The result was over $1 billion in opioid settlements that will be divided between the participating states and eligible counties and municipalities within them. New Jersey's portion of the settlements is the NJ Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund.
Recently, Governor Murphy announced plans to allocate more than $95 million from the fund toward harm reduction measures. Approximately $24 million will go toward expanding services at Harm Reduction Centers, while $19.5 million will go toward scaling remote referrals to opioid addiction treatment in NJ.
NJ harm reduction facilities provide a wide variety of services, including access to sterile syringes and needles, education on safer opioid use, and safe disposal of equipment. They also provide naloxone, increasing access to the medication even further.
Public-private partnerships
The NJ state government cannot address the opioid crisis alone. There are several public-private partnerships in New Jersey geared toward protecting the safety of residents amidst this crisis. For example, the NJ Harm Reduction Coalition distributes naloxone, conducts street outreach, and offers training on responding to opioid overdoses.
Ophelia's role
Care providers play another essential role in the fight against the opioid crisis. By providing access to reliable, evidence-based care, these clinicians help those dealing with opioid use disorder (OUD) meaningfully address their opioid dependency.
Online campaigns to highlight telehealth
Ophelia proudly offers telehealth OUD treatment to patients across the country, including in New Jersey. Because patients can access this treatment without leaving the comfort of their own homes, telehealth OUD care eliminates several barriers to treatment that would otherwise stop many patients from getting the help they need.
Online treatment from Ophelia meets the gold standard of OUD treatment, combining medications for addiction treatment (MAT) with support from a dedicated care team of clinicians and care coordinators. Ophelia is dedicated to furthering education on opioids and OUD treatment as well as expanding access to treatment. Explore treatment options to find the care you need.
Sources
