Resources in
New Jersey
In 2020, there were 2,840 identified opioid overdose deaths in the state of New Jersey.
If you are a person who uses drugs or if you are around people who use drugs, please consider learning how to respond to an opioid overdose and carrying naloxone (intranasal brand name: Narcan). Naloxone is a medication designed to reverse an opioid overdose. Opioids slow down the activity of the central nervous system. This can cause slowed or stopped breathing which may lead to death. Naloxone displaces the opioids from the opioid receptors in the brain which allows the person who is experiencing an opioid overdose to begin breathing normally. We have a helpful FAQ and are constantly updating it with questions from our site visitors. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, let us know.
Request Naloxone and Fentanyl Test Strips by MAIL
If you are a person who uses drugs, have been recently released from jail or prison, or if you are a friend, family member, or partner of of someone who may be at high-risk for an opioid overdose, you can have naloxone (and fentanyl test strips!) discretely mailed to you at no cost. We partner with New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition to provide this service.
PHARMACY-BASED NALOXONE ACCESS
Click below to view the current list of NJ pharmacies participating in the statewide Naloxone365 free Narcan program
Find your local syringe access program
New Jersey has several harm reduction programs specifically designed to support people who use drugs (PWUD). Services at harm reduction programs include sterile syringe access (syringe exchange) and naloxone provision. Many have HIV/HCV testing, low-threshold buprenorphine, and a host of other health and wellness services.
NEW JERSEY HARM REDUCTION COALITIOn
New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition (NJHRC) was formed by people who use drugs, people who used to use drugs, people in recovery, people who have lost loved ones to overdose, people harmed by the drug war, faith leaders, and concerned community members. NJHRC works in coalition (which they define as “coming together for combined action”) to create a New Jersey that values the safety and dignity of all people who use drugs, and to make evidence-informed harm reduction public health resources widely available to everyone in the state of New Jersey.
NEW JERSEY GOOD SAMARITAN LAW
New Jersey has a limited Good Samaritan Law which encourages individuals who witness an opioid overdose to call 911 by protecting individuals from arrest, charge, or prosecution for being under the influence of drugs or having drug paraphernalia.
DRUG USER ORGANIZING
The Urban Survivors Union is a national drug users union mobilizing against the war on drugs. Check out their wealth of resources including #reframetheblame a campaign against drug induced homicide laws.
NJ Health Opioid Data Dashboard
A collection of several opioid data dashboards created by NJ Health.
OVERDOSE RESPONSE TRAINING CALENDAR
The Dept. of Human Services has a region-specific in-person training calendar and other valuable information.
Centers of Excellence
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Centers of Excellence in the state of New Jersey aim to increase access to medication-assisted treatment and recovery support services for individuals with substance use disorders through education, mentoring, collaboration, and networking across the state.
REACH NJ
ReachNJ is a 24-hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week addictions hotline where people can get immediate assistance and support from live, New Jersey-based, trained addiction counselors, 844-732-2465.
NEW JERSEY HELPLINES
New Jersey has several Warmlines, Helplines, and Hotlines. The Peer Recovery WarmLine has available hours 365 days a year and all calls are answered by peers who are trained supportive individuals with lived experience.