Gottheimer, Booker announce new legislation to combat fentanyl and opioid epidemic in New Jersey and the U.S.

NEW JERSEY — U.S. Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) Friday announced the Preventing Overdoses with Test Strips Act, which will allow federal and state governments to deploy federal grants to community organizations so they can acquire fentanyl test strips — a commonsense and proven step to saving the lives. Gottheimer is leading the legislation in the House and Booker is leading it in the Senate.

Gottheimer and Booker also toured Bergen New Bridge Medical Center’s Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program where they met with healthcare professionals.

Opioid and Fentanyl Statistics:

• About 300 Americans die every single day from an opioid overdose.
• Over the last five years, New Jersey has lost nearly 2,500 people every year to opioid related overdoses.
• In 2019, fentanyl was involved in nearly 75 percent of those drug overdoses in New Jersey — up from just four percent seven years prior.
• Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl, which is about 10 to15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose.
• Research has shown that 81% of individuals with access to test strips regularly use them, and those who receive positive results were five times more likely to modify their drug use behavior.

The Preventing Overdoses with Test Strips Act amends current federal legislation to ensure that certain grant programs can cover expenses related to the acquisition and usage of test strips that detect the presence of fentanyl, xylazine, and other substances. Research has shown that 81% of individuals with access to test strips regularly use them, and those who receive positive results were five times more likely to modify their drug use behavior.

“Across Jersey and our nation, the fentanyl epidemic is tearing families and communities apart. We all wish there was a magic bullet to stop addiction and abuse. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t exist. That’s why we all must come together — Democrats and Republicans — to do everything we can to stop the disease of opioid addiction,” Gottheimer said. “I’m proud to help lead in the House the Preventing Overdoses with Test Strips Act — a commonsense and proven step to protecting the lives of our loved ones.”

“For decades, America has waged a War on Drugs that has been disastrous for the most marginalized people in our nation,” Booker said. “Repeating the failed drug policies of the past will not solve the opioid crisis that our nation currently faces and will instead only perpetuate problems. A public health crisis requires a public health response, and expanding access to lifesaving test strips, which allow people to check if a pill or drug contains a fatal substance, is essential to reducing the record number of deaths caused by the opioid epidemic.”

“In recent years, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center has made critical investments to better serve its patients,” Booker said.”I was proud to visit the center and discuss its multifaceted approach to treat substance use disorders, which has been critical in helping our state fight the opioid epidemic.”

Gottheimer was joined by Senator Cory Booker, Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur, Bergen County Commissioner Rafael Marte, Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton, and New Bridge Medical Center’s Medical Director of Addiction Medicine Dr. Anthony Accurso, and Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco.