Downey Statement on Governor Murphy’s Announcement of Free Naloxone

OCEAN TOWNSHIP – Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-Monmouth) released the following statement in support of Governor Phil Murphy’s plan to distribute free Naloxone, the antidote to opioid overdose:

I commend Governor Murphy on his plan to distribute Naloxone, the opioid overdose-reversing  drug, for free to individuals through participating pharmacies because it will save lives and put people suffering from opioid addition on a path to recovery.

Untold numbers of New Jerseyans have fallen into opioid addiction without knowing the risk simply because they took a drug when it was prescribed, and as they were instructed, by physicians to alleviate chronic pain. More than 3,000 people died of overdoses last year in New Jersey, and there likely would have been thousands more overdose deaths had it not been for the speedy administration of Naloxone by first responders. The Governor’s pilot program will, in effect, enable individuals to act as first responders and administer Naloxone in the critical first minutes of an opioid overdose.

Assemblywoman Joann Downey represents New Jersey’s 11th Legislative District in the State Assembly, where she works to make the Garden State more affordable for its hard-working residents. The 11th District includes the Monmouth County municipalities of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune City, Neptune, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls and West Long Branch.