In the News
-
statnews.com: Drug maker thwarted plan to limit OxyContin prescriptions at dawn of opioid epidemic
Posted 10/27/2016
...an investigation by STAT has found that Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, thwarted the state’s plan by paying a middleman, known as a pharmacy benefits manager, to prevent insurers from limiting prescriptions of the drug.
-
njspotlight.com: NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS IN NJ WRITTEN WITHOUT PLAN
Posted 10/25/2016
New Jersey would be the first state in the nation to hold insurance companies largely responsible for ensuring opioids are prescribed only as a last resort, under a new proposal to help curb the flow of highly addictive medicines that are fueling the state’s heroin and opiate epidemic.
-
consumer.healthday.com: Risk of Opioid Addiction Up 37 Percent Among Young U.S. Adults
Posted 10/25/2016
Young adults in the United States are more likely to become addicted to prescription opioids than they were in years past. And they're more likely to use heroin, too, a new study says.
-
PRESCRIPTION NATION 2016 - ADDRESSING AMERICA’ S DRUG EPIDEMIC
Posted 10/24/2016
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - This is the most fatal drug crisis on record in United States history, and too many families and communities are left to suffer in its path. These highly addictive medicines have been incorrectly marketed as the most effective method for treating pain and, subsequently, liberally prescribed. Prescription opioids also serve as gateway drugs to heroin, which has a nearly identical chemical makeup and is cheaper and sometimes easier to obtain.
-
WEINBERG & VITALE BILL TO COMBAT OPIOID ADDICTION AMONG MINORS APPROVED
Posted 10/20/2016
Requires Discussion on Addiction Potential of Medications Prescribed to Minors
-
nj1015.com - NJ lawmaker targeting doctors who prescribe too many painkillers
Posted 10/19/2016
With New Jersey’s prescription painkiller and heroin epidemic continuing to get worse, one Garden State lawmaker is moving forward with a plan to force doctors and dentists to be more responsible when they’re writing prescriptions for opioid drugs.
-
njtoday.net: Lesniak legislation restricts opiate access in New Jersey
Posted 10/19/2016
Senator Raymond J. Lesniak (D-20), today, unveiled his plan to introduce legislation that is geared at reducing the number of New Jersey residents who become dependent on a prescribed opiate, at a press conference at Eva’s Village, Paterson.
-
NJ State Senator Lesniak Announces Legislation to Curb New Jersey’s Opiate Abuse Epidemic
Posted 10/18/2016
PATERSON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak (D-20), today, unveiled his plan to introduce legislation that is geared at reducing the number of New Jersey residents who become dependent on a prescribed opiate, at a press conference at Eva’s Village, Paterson.
-
pressofatlanticcity.com: New bill aims to curb addiction rates by limiting opioid prescriptions
Posted 10/18/2016
Lawmakers and drug-prevention advocates hope to reduce the amount of opioid drugs doctors prescribe in an effort to curb addiction rates in New Jersey.
-
Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Statement on Senate Bill 2156Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey: Statement on Senate Bill 2156
Posted 10/13/2016
Thank you Chairman Sarlo for your support of this bill and thank you Senator Diegnan for co-sponsoring the Assembly version of this bill, last year. This bill passed almost unanimously in the last session, and I thank all of the members of this committee for your support in the passing of this bill during the previous legislative session and today.