NJ Spotlight published the following article on 4/29/2014. To read the full article, click here.

Legislators Poised to Combat Deadly Rise in Opioid Abuse and Heroin Use

Andrew Kitchenman | April 29, 2014

Now comes what may be the most difficult part of the fight against often deadly abuse of opioids and use of heroin – following up talk with effective action.

Using tax money from electronic cigarettes for anti-drug abuse initiatives, freeing up the use of empty hospital beds for drug treatment and updating the drug-prevention curriculum in schools are among ideas being put forward by legislators.

In addition, Gov. Chris Christie’s administration is working on several proposals to address drug abuse, according to Celina Gray, acting executive director for the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. She discussed the issue at a Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee hearing yesterday.

Gray said council officials are in discussions to establish a heroin and prescription drug abuse “warm line,” a phone line dedicated to providing information to the public.

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