Read media coverage about our work.
Press
Health Funding for cops stokes debate over use of opioid settlement money Axios (August 21, 2023)
Should Opioid Settlement Money Be Spent on Law Enforcement? As states and counties spend the first wave of billions of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry, public health groups are challenging how some funds are being used. New York Times (August 14, 2023)
Meet the People Deciding How to Spend $50 Billion in Opioid Settlement Cash KFF Health News & NPR (July 10, 2023)
Member, Deric Miller, called for our representatives to show us solutions instead of more setbacks NJ Monitor (June 26, 2023)
Member, Elissa Tierney talked about about why compassionate care works - and tougher penalties don’t Star Ledger (June 13, 2023)
Opioid Advisory Council Adopts Plan to Strategize, Fund Addiction Prevention, Recovery The Sandpaper (May 31, 2023)
Fighting the opioid epidemic door to door NJ Spotlight (June 5, 2023)
Addressing opioid epidemic in Ocean and Monmouth counties PBS (June 5, 2023)
Tougher drug penalties don’t work. I know this from experience NJ.com (June 13, 2023)
Pitch for tougher fentanyl law sparks hot debate in Trenton NJ Spotlight (June 13, 2023)
The struggle of constantly living on the brink The Guilfordian (March 3, 2023)
Sea Change RCO’s Dual Goal to Serve Recovery Community While Influencing Policy The Sandpaper (March 1, 2023)
One Year Inside a Radical New Approach to America’s Overdose Crisis
New York Times (Feb. 22, 2023)
N.J. lawmakers want to pass harsher penalties for fentanyl despite pleas from social justice and harm reduction advocates
PBS (Feb. 13, 2023)
Democrats tout ‘tough-on-crime’ legislation*
NJ Spotlight News (Feb. 13, 2023)
Overdose reversal medication could soon be sold alongside ibuprofen and allergy meds, but cost may still be a barrier
PBS (Feb. 26, 2023)
Parents call for more compassion, less criminalization in fighting fentanyl crisis
CBS8 (Feb. 27, 2023)
‘You're not protecting our children’: Rochester Hills mom testifies about 2 sons’ fentanyl deaths
The Detroit News (Feb. 28, 2023)
A drug recovery success goes statewide
NJSpotlight (Feb. 21, 2023)
Sea Change RCO’s Dual Goal to Serve Recovery Community While Influencing Policy*
The Sandpaper (March 1, 2023)
Biden’s fentanyl position sparks criticism from 2 sides
Associated Press (Feb. 8, 2023)
States consider ‘safe injection sites’ to prevent overdoses
Associated Press (March 1 2023)
Owner of addiction clinics faces health care fraud charges
Associated Press (March 2, 2023)
Garland gets grilled on DOJ's action on Fentanyl
Associated Press (March 1, 2023)
Commissioners unveil expansive mental health programming funded by opioid settlement
Insider New Jersey (March 1, 2023)
Sea Change RCO’s Dual Goal to Serve Recovery Community While Influencing Policy*
The Sandpaper (March 1, 2023)
Benzo Dope and Tranq: The Next Wave of the Overdose Crisis
Vice News (May 16, 2022)
The struggle of constantly living on the brink*
The Guilfordian (March 3, 2023)
Oregon Decriminalized Drugs, What's Next?
Drug Policy Alliance (March 6, 2023)
States consider ‘safe injection sites’ to prevent overdoses
Associated Press (March 1, 2023)
National Drug Control Budget FY 2024 Funding Highlights
White House Public Release (March 2023)
Are Harsher Fentanyl Penalties the Solution to the Opiate Crisis? Experts Say No
NPR (March 13, 2023)
People Have a Right to Nonreligous Rehab
New York Times (March 11, 2023)
Washington State Senate Still Thinks Addiction Can be Punished Out of People
The Stranger (March 13, 2023)
N.J. will use $641M from J&J opioid settlement to fund treatment, prevention, Murphy says
NJ.com (March 23, 2022)
Opinion: A tougher drug homicide law won't reduce overdose deaths
The Colorado Sun (March 10, 2023)
Ocean County to Spend Millions in Opioid Settlement Funds; Recovery Specialists, Community Organizers Weigh In*
The Sandpaper (March 22, 2023)
CLICK HERE:
Photo: Participants of the Opioid Settlement Convening @ Open Society Foundation, NYC
We are proud to join a list of more than 130 organizations representing advocates and experts from public health, overdose prevention, and drug policy across the nation in releasing a roadmap on how states should spend $50 billion in opioid settlement funds.
Public health experts call on states, counties, and municipalities to invest 100% of these funds in evidence-based solutions that are proven to reduce overdoses, save lives, and give those with substance use disorder opportunities for effective treatment, rather than put them behind bars. These policies include:
Funding access to all forms of FDA-approved medication for addiction treatment (MAT) and harm reduction services such as syringe service programs, access to naloxone, and the establishment of overdose prevention centers (OPCs).
Expanding housing, outreach and wraparound support services for people who use drugs and people with drug-related convictions that could bar them from critical benefits.
Addressing collateral consequences of current War on Drug policies, including supporting second-chance employment, recovery-to-work programs, and the expungement of past criminal convictions.