Recent Allocation Brings NJ Opioid Settlement Investments to Over $130 Million So Far to Combat the Nationwide Overdose Crisis

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today announced the allocation of $10.85 million from New Jersey’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund to support ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis, including recovery and overdose prevention services that meet people where they are and promote long-term recovery.

The announcement comes on the heels of International Overdose Awareness Day, which is observed globally on August 31 to honor those lost and amplify efforts to end overdose. September is annually observed as National Recovery Month.

“Far too many New Jerseyans have felt the devastating impact of the opioid crisis, and – while we have made great progress in reducing the harms of substance use, streamlining access to treatment, and supporting families in recovery – much work remains ahead to ensure all our family members, friends, and neighbors receive the support that they deserve,” said Governor Murphy. “Today’s investments, which are informed by the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council, build on our efforts to uplift our communities with proven harm reduction strategies and evidence-based resources to support sustained recovery.”

This additional funding will be invested in initiatives to bolster services and address the needs of those who have been adversely impacted by the opioid crisis:

• $4.3 million to provide access to community-based substance use treatment. Each month, approximately 1,000 uninsured individuals are admitted to community-based programs for treatment. This funding through the New Jersey Statewide Initiative Program and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Initiative will enable uninsured individuals meeting certain eligibility criteria to access needed treatment services. 
• $3.5 million over 2.5 years to continue the Recovery Management Checkup program. Peer Recovery Specialists provide local recovery support through check-in and follow-up services for individuals who have completed treatment to support independent living and success with recovery. Modalities include virtual face-to-face visits, texting, and in-person contacts. 
• $2 million to continue deploying Peer Recovery Specialists in residential treatment agencies. Peers provide non-clinical assistance and recovery support services to individuals receiving substance use treatment in residential settings, including inpatient withdrawal management, short-term and long-term residential, and halfway houses.
• $1.05 million to extend the Maternal Wraparound Program, which provides intensive case management and recovery support services to pregnant women with substance use disorders during pregnancy and for up to one year postpartum. According to the New Jersey Maternal Mortality Review Committee, substance use is a leading cause of pregnancy-associated death.

Requests for proposals and grant availabilities relating to the State’s portion of opioid settlement funds are available here on a rolling basis.

“This most recent investment will bring life-saving support to individuals and families affected by addiction. It will expand access to essential treatment and recovery services, including support for expecting mothers during pregnancy and up to a year after birth, which is such a critical time for both mothers and babies,” said Sarah Adelman, New Jersey Human Services Commissioner and Chairperson of the New Jersey Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council. “These programs are vital for helping people build stability and sustain long-term recovery. This funding represents hope and healing, and I am grateful that we can assist people in need to build a stronger path towards recovery.”

The Advisory Council, chaired by Commissioner Adelman, is tasked with making recommendations for the effective use of the State’s share of nationwide settlement agreements with several opioid manufacturers and distributors for their contributions to the ongoing opioid epidemic. Established on Overdose Awareness Day 2022 via Executive Order No. 305, the Advisory Council meets regularly. In June 2025, the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council issued its five-year Strategic Plan after a 15-month planning and stakeholder engagement process. It includes four key investment areas: housing, harm reduction, treatment, and coordinated wraparound services.

The projects announced today were identified through the State’s Advisory Council process as particularly significant existing programs in New Jersey’s opioid crisis response at acute risk of closure or waiting lists, without alternative funding opportunities at hand, and with federal funding constrained. In 2023, the Advisory Council similarly acted to recommend $500,000 for the State’s response to the emergent threat of xylazine in New Jersey’s drug supply.

The State of New Jersey, along with eligible counties and municipalities, will receive more than $1 billion in settlement funds over the next two decades. The newly allocated funding builds on over $120 million in opioid settlement spending announced last year.

Anyone struggling with substance use addiction is encouraged to call 1-844-ReachNJ, a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week helpline.