On June 25, the New Jersey Society of Addiction Medicine (NJSAM), Shatterproof, and 5 other organizations sent a letter to Governor Phil Murphy urging him to sign S3867/A5868, which would create the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund for use by the New Jersey legislature in combatting the state’s addiction crisis. Money received by the state from litigation and settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and distributors related to claims arising from the manufacture, marketing, distribution or dispensing of opioids would be placed into the fund.

The letter stressed that legislation establishing opioid settlement funds should embody the Principles for the Use of Funds From the Opioid Litigation, which have been endorsed by ASAM. S3867/A5868 adheres to these principles admirably. Specifically, by noting that the monies in the fund must be used to supplement substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs and services in the state, the legislation ensures that the funds are not used to supplant existing funding. Furthermore, the legislation emphasizes the importance of providing services that are culturally and gender competent, trauma-informed, evidence-based and, where appropriate, employing individuals with lived experience as part of the services provided.

Read the letter.

Read the bill.

Read the Principles for the Use of Funds From the Opioid Litigation.