There’s encouraging news in New Jersey’s battle against the opioid crisis: the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner reported that overdose deaths dropped by 30% in 2024. That’s a major shift, outpacing the national average by more than 10%. Still, 1,813 lives were lost. This isn’t a victory. It’s progress and a call to keep pushing forward.

This kind of change doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of tireless work from prevention advocates, public health professionals, and countless community members who are committed to saving lives. It reflects a coordinated effort to educate, support, and protect individuals and families across New Jersey.

We’re on the right path, but we’re not done. Every number in that death toll represents someone’s child, spouse, sibling, or friend. And for each life lost, a family is left grieving.

The goal isn’t fewer deaths. It’s none.

Let’s keep working together until we get there.