New Jersey Drug Deaths 3rd Highest Jump In The Nation

From July 2016 to June 2017, the CDC projected 2,219 overdose deaths in NJ, with 2,687 form July 2017 to June 2018.  New Jersey saw the third-highest jump in the nation in drug overdose deaths over the past 12 months, spiking more than 21 percent.  Projections indicate that the only states with higher spikes were North Carolina (22.5%) and Nebraska (33.3%).  And the numbers keep climbing! 

The Office of the Attorney General, NJ Coordinator for Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies estimates 2,852 overdose deaths to date (as of 11/25/18).  Each year this decade, NJ has lost the equivalent of a small town to the opioid crisis.

New Jersey drug deaths since 1999

Data for 2017 and 2018 is preliminary

Estimated Drug Deaths 2018 if pace continues

MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT IMPROVES OUTCOMES

Reduces repeat criminal activity

Decreased the likelihood of drug relapse, overdose and recidivism among former inmates and increased their likelihood of remaining in long-term drug treatment.

Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment 

Approved medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, provide a “whole-patient” approach to the treatment of substance use addiction.

Decreases illicit opioid use

40% of patients being treated with medication did not relapse, compared to 28% without medication increasing treatment retention.

Decreases fatal overdoses

Studies show that increasing the availability of medication-assisted treatment led to 50% fewer fatal overdoses whereby improving patient survival

Improves birth outcomes

Improves birth outcomes among pregnant women who have substance use disorders compared with no medication-assisted treatment