The administration of Gov. Phil Murphy aims to make naloxone, the opioid-overdose antidote, widely available. “Naloxone is a first line of defense against an opioid overdose,” Department of Human Services Assistant Commissioner Valerie Mielke, said. “As such, we want to ensure that the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone is readily available to as many people as possible.”

In the past, the administration has given 64,000 free doses to residents at pharmacies and 70,000 free doses to police, EMS, homeless shelters, libraries and re-entry organizations. According to a DHS press release, DHS in cooperation with the state attorney general’s office, has now distributed more than 24,000 doses of naloxone — in 12,154 two-dose kits — to 127 law enforcement agencies in the state, again at no cost.