In the News
-
Families Challenged to Tackle Prescription Drug Abuse Across US
Posted 11/12/2016
New York --- On November 12, 2016 the 7th Annual American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC) --- a national public health initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and encourage safe disposal of prescription drugs will be held in communities throughout the nation.
-
New Prescribing Guidelines for Opiates Released by State Dental Association NJDA Leads Conversation on Safe Prescribing
Posted 11/7/2016
NORTH BRUNSWICK— Dentists in New Jersey have proven they are committed to preventing the abuse of prescription pain medicine.
-
cbsnews.com: Overdoses skyrocket as kids eat opioids "like candy"
Posted 11/2/2016
The number of young children and teens hospitalized for overdosing on opioid painkillers have spiked nearly threefold in recent years, a new study finds.
-
app.com: @ISSUE: Is there a fix for addiction problem?
Posted 10/30/2016
The heroin and opioid epidemic in New Jersey and throughout the nation has been spiraling out of control, with the death toll from drug overdoses rising each year and the demand for treatment overwhelming the facilities and resources needed to meet the demand. What is being done to address the problem and what more should be done to start turning the tide? We turned to Debra Wentz, president and CEO of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, for some answers.
-
nj.com: Narcan used 18K times on N.J. overdose victims since 2014
Posted 10/29/2016
New Jersey emergency officials have deployed a drug that halts the effects of an opioid overdose more than 18,000 times since its widespread implementation in 2014, new data shows.
-
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