Report takes on New Jersey’s heroin, pill problem

    A state panel is offering recommendations on how to combat New Jersey’s burgeoning heroin and prescription drug abuse problem.

    The Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse says the use of heroin and prescription opiates in New Jersey is “skyrocketing.” Its report released Tuesday says admissions to licensed or certified substance abuse programs due to prescription drug abuse have increased seven-fold over the last decade.

    Addiction to prescription drugs often leads to heroin addiction.

    The report makes numerous recommendations, such as expanding resources for people to get treatment and making it easier to build treatment centers where they’re needed.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    The report also recommends expanding mental health and substance abuse programs in county jails, and reviewing insurance practices to make it easier to get mental health and substance abuse treatment.

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal