Credit: (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)Last week, the Murphy administration launched StopOverdoses.NJ.gov, a website where residents can find pharmacies that provide naloxone free of charge. It’s part of the state’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis and increase access to the life-saving medication, which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
Under the Naloxone365 initiative, residents aged 14 and older can obtain naloxone without a prescription at participating pharmacies for free without having to provide a name or reason. A single two-dose naloxone nasal-spray kit is provided per visit.
Zoom into the map to find participating pharmacies near you:
You can also search through the state’s database for participating pharmacies.
The Murphy administration announced the program in January and has been working with pharmacies to make naloxone accessible.
Other distribution paths
As of Aug. 7, 610 pharmacies are participating, and 40,687 naloxone kits have already been distributed through the program, according to the Department of Human Services, which oversees addiction services. The department also works with advocacy groups to distribute naloxone directly to drug users through a variety of other programs. Police and first responders generally carry opioid-reversal agents.
“Making naloxone accessible and available for free and anonymously in pharmacies eliminates the most common barriers to the life-saving medication, helps reduce stigma, and ultimately may encourage people to seek treatment and long-term recovery,” said Sarah Adelman, commissioner of the Department of Human Services in a statement.
While opioid-related deaths in New Jersey declined slightly year-over-year in 2022 — marking the first drop in nearly a decade — nearly 3,000 people died last year from substance use, according to state data. Fatal overdose deaths are also rising among Black residents, figures show.
— Map by Genesis Obando
