TRENTON – Senate Health Committee Chairman Joseph F. Vitale, who has spearheaded the passage of a wide range of bills to address the opioid and heroin epidemic, today issued the following statement on Overdose Awareness Day:
“The opioid epidemic is an intractable problem that has devastated communities and damaged and destroyed countless lives. We are committed to battling this crisis in New Jersey and have made important strides over the last several years as we advanced numerous laws aimed at stemming its spread through prevention, education, treatment, and recovery. We know there is more to do and we will continue to improve upon our efforts as we learn more about this crisis.
“We also must address the stigma associated with addiction so those who are suffering are open to seeking the help they need. Bringing attention to this illness and educating the public about treatment and recovery will go a long way toward doing that. I want to thank the governor for designating today as Overdose Awareness Day. Today, we remember those who we’ve lost and recognize those who continue to suffer across our state. And we recommit to continuing the fight to aggressively combat this deadly disease.”