How is substance abuse affecting New Jersey communities—and what can we do about it?
The Issue
Substance addiction, particularly opioid misuse, continues to erode the foundations of communities across New Jersey. From overwhelmed hospitals to grieving families, the impact of addiction is staggering and deeply personal. According to the most recent data, New Jersey reported over 2,800 overdose deaths in 2022 alone, with opioids responsible for the vast majority. That’s an average of more than 7 lives lost each day—lives that could have been saved with timely intervention, access to care, and community support.
Addiction is not simply a health issue—it’s a community crisis. A crisis that tears families apart, leaves children without caregivers, and burdens our criminal justice and public health systems. And yet, many individuals still struggle to find help, face stigma, or encounter barriers to treatment.
As highlighted in recent research published by ChoicePoint Health, the correlation between trauma and addiction is clear. Nearly two-thirds of people suffering from substance use disorders have experienced trauma, and this trauma—left unaddressed—can become a recurring cycle of pain, addiction, and relapse. This is not just about personal choices; it's about systemic failures to address pain at its root.
What Are the Solutions?
We believe New Jersey has the opportunity to become a national leader in tackling the addiction crisis through compassionate, evidence-based strategies. The following actions are urgently needed:
1. Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Facilities offering methadone, Suboxone, and buprenorphine need to be more widespread—especially in underserved communities. Evidence shows MAT can significantly reduce cravings, improve mental health, and prevent relapse.
2. Implement Trauma-Informed Care
Addiction and trauma are tightly linked. Recovery programs must be equipped to address the mental health roots of addiction, offering dual diagnosis care that treats both PTSD and substance use concurrently.
3. Provide Naloxone in Every Community
Make naloxone (Narcan) freely available to the public, in schools, libraries, and community centers. Every person should be trained to use it—because every overdose reversed is a life saved.
4. Adopt Successful Models Like Project ASSERT
Hospitals in NJ should pilot programs like Project ASSERT, which screens ER patients for substance misuse and links them with immediate community-based care. Early interventions can steer individuals toward recovery before tragedy strikes.
5. Create Community Resource Hubs
Town-sponsored outreach like community dinners, mobile clinics, and local support groups can build trust and serve as entry points into treatment programs. Offering job training, housing assistance, and recovery coaching can increase the odds of long-term success.
Why This Matters
Substance use isn’t just about drugs. It’s about untreated trauma. It’s about mental health. It’s about loneliness, lack of opportunity, and stigma. And above all—it’s about people.
“If we treat addiction as a moral failure, we build jails. If we treat it as a public health crisis, we build futures.”
Recovery isn’t just possible—it’s probable when we invest in the right tools. That’s why we’re calling on state lawmakers, treatment providers, community leaders, and YOU to stand with us. Together, we can change how New Jersey responds to addiction—starting with compassion and backed by science.
What Can YOU Do?
✅ Sign this petition to demand increased state funding for evidence-based addiction treatment and prevention.
✅ Attend your local town hall or school board meeting to advocate for opioid education and mental health resources.
✅ Volunteer or donate to local recovery organizations in your area.
✅ Educate others: Share stories, break stigma, and humanize the struggle.
Let’s Build a Healthier New Jersey—Together.
This petition is a call to action—for policies that work, for support that heals, and for communities that rise together. Addiction does not define a person. But how we respond to addiction will define us.
📍 Please sign and share this petition. Together, we can make sure no one facing addiction is left without hope, help, or a second chance.
Reference:
https://www.choicepointhealth.com/stats-for-substance-abuse-in-new-jersey/
7
The Issue
Substance addiction, particularly opioid misuse, continues to erode the foundations of communities across New Jersey. From overwhelmed hospitals to grieving families, the impact of addiction is staggering and deeply personal. According to the most recent data, New Jersey reported over 2,800 overdose deaths in 2022 alone, with opioids responsible for the vast majority. That’s an average of more than 7 lives lost each day—lives that could have been saved with timely intervention, access to care, and community support.
Addiction is not simply a health issue—it’s a community crisis. A crisis that tears families apart, leaves children without caregivers, and burdens our criminal justice and public health systems. And yet, many individuals still struggle to find help, face stigma, or encounter barriers to treatment.
As highlighted in recent research published by ChoicePoint Health, the correlation between trauma and addiction is clear. Nearly two-thirds of people suffering from substance use disorders have experienced trauma, and this trauma—left unaddressed—can become a recurring cycle of pain, addiction, and relapse. This is not just about personal choices; it's about systemic failures to address pain at its root.
What Are the Solutions?
We believe New Jersey has the opportunity to become a national leader in tackling the addiction crisis through compassionate, evidence-based strategies. The following actions are urgently needed:
1. Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Facilities offering methadone, Suboxone, and buprenorphine need to be more widespread—especially in underserved communities. Evidence shows MAT can significantly reduce cravings, improve mental health, and prevent relapse.
2. Implement Trauma-Informed Care
Addiction and trauma are tightly linked. Recovery programs must be equipped to address the mental health roots of addiction, offering dual diagnosis care that treats both PTSD and substance use concurrently.
3. Provide Naloxone in Every Community
Make naloxone (Narcan) freely available to the public, in schools, libraries, and community centers. Every person should be trained to use it—because every overdose reversed is a life saved.
4. Adopt Successful Models Like Project ASSERT
Hospitals in NJ should pilot programs like Project ASSERT, which screens ER patients for substance misuse and links them with immediate community-based care. Early interventions can steer individuals toward recovery before tragedy strikes.
5. Create Community Resource Hubs
Town-sponsored outreach like community dinners, mobile clinics, and local support groups can build trust and serve as entry points into treatment programs. Offering job training, housing assistance, and recovery coaching can increase the odds of long-term success.
Why This Matters
Substance use isn’t just about drugs. It’s about untreated trauma. It’s about mental health. It’s about loneliness, lack of opportunity, and stigma. And above all—it’s about people.
“If we treat addiction as a moral failure, we build jails. If we treat it as a public health crisis, we build futures.”
Recovery isn’t just possible—it’s probable when we invest in the right tools. That’s why we’re calling on state lawmakers, treatment providers, community leaders, and YOU to stand with us. Together, we can change how New Jersey responds to addiction—starting with compassion and backed by science.
What Can YOU Do?
✅ Sign this petition to demand increased state funding for evidence-based addiction treatment and prevention.
✅ Attend your local town hall or school board meeting to advocate for opioid education and mental health resources.
✅ Volunteer or donate to local recovery organizations in your area.
✅ Educate others: Share stories, break stigma, and humanize the struggle.
Let’s Build a Healthier New Jersey—Together.
This petition is a call to action—for policies that work, for support that heals, and for communities that rise together. Addiction does not define a person. But how we respond to addiction will define us.
📍 Please sign and share this petition. Together, we can make sure no one facing addiction is left without hope, help, or a second chance.
Reference:
https://www.choicepointhealth.com/stats-for-substance-abuse-in-new-jersey/
Petition Updates
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Petition created on 30 July 2025