(TRENTON) – Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman today announced the Department issued more than 132,000 doses of the opioid overdose antidote naloxone during the first year of its program allowing residents to get the life-saving medication free and anonymously at participating New Jersey pharmacies.

Combined with other efforts, Human Services during the Murphy Administration has now provided about 614,000 naloxone doses to first responders, libraries, schools, colleges, public institutions, harm reduction entities and the general public, among others.

“Each dose of naloxone represents a second chance,” Commissioner Adelman said. “New Jerseyans obtained 132,000 doses through this program at community pharmacies, at no cost and with no associated stigma. As we work to eliminate barriers so that this life-saving medication can be available to every household, this nation-leading program will grant many more chances to save lives and more chances for recovery.”

The 664 currently participating pharmacies can be found on stopoverdoses.nj.gov.

Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.

Under the Naloxone365 initiative, those ages 14 years and older can request and obtain naloxone at participating pharmacies for free without having to provide a name or reason. No prescription is needed. One two-dose naloxone nasal spray kit is provided per visit.

During its first year, 66,007 two-dose nasal spray naloxone kits were dispensed through pharmacies. Human Services worked with pharmacies to implement and promote the program, and also invested in a multi-million bilingual ad campaign to promote the program.

“New Jerseyans can obtain this life-saving antidote for free and, importantly, without stigma,” Deputy Commissioner for Health Services Lisa Asare said. “We want naloxone in every New Jersey medicine cabinet, so I urge residents to continue visiting our participating pharmacies. You never know when you may need to save a life.”

“Naloxone saves lives, and is also an opportunity to give people a chance to treat the effects substance use disorder has on their lives,” said Assistant Commissioner Valerie Mielke, who oversees the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. “Naloxone availability is a top priority of our ongoing work to reverse the tide of this epidemic. We hope to get even more naloxone into our communities in the year to come.”

“I applaud DHS’s achievements in addressing the opioid epidemic,” Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. “The many pharmacies that have joined its Naloxone365 program are helping to reduce barriers to accessing this life-saving treatment. Building a healthier and safer New Jersey is a priority across our government, and our innovative efforts – including programs administered under NJCARES and the Good Samaritan Law – are helping to ensure that substance use disorder is not a death sentence in our state.”

Commissioner Adelman also urged anyone seeking addiction assistance to call 1-844-ReachNJ (732-2465), a 24-hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week addictions help line, where people facing addiction or their friends and family can get immediate assistance and support from live, New Jersey-based, trained addiction counselors. ReachNJ assists all callers including individuals with limited or no income nor health insurance to access treatment without having to pay out of pocket to receive services.