Creating healthy, drug-free communities takes more than good intentions; it takes a comprehensive, coordinated approach.

A recent story from Carter County, Kentucky, where $15,000 in opioid settlement funds were used to build an ice skating rink, raises important questions about how we define prevention and how we ensure these funds are used to truly address the opioid crisis. Read the full article.

While we support safe, healthy activities for youth, those efforts must be part of a broader strategy rooted in education, treatment access, and community engagement. In New Jersey and across the country, initiatives have been implemented that reflect that full-spectrum approach.

For instance, the American Medicine Chest Challenge empowers families to safely dispose of unused medications and initiate meaningful conversations about prescription drug safety. The Opioid Patients’ Right to Know Act, for which PDFNJ advocated, ensures that patients are informed about the addictive potential of opioids and are aware of non-opioid alternatives.  New Jersey was the first state to adopt this legislation, and since then, 21 additional states have followed our lead.

As more opioid settlement dollars are allocated across the country, it is critical that they are used in ways that reflect the true complexity of prevention and recovery. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful, lasting impact, and we must meet it with the full weight of our knowledge, experience, and commitment.