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New Jersey reports the first across-the-board decline in overdose fatalities in a decade, coinciding with major growth in harm reduction infrastructure and access to treatment.
3-26-2025 3:34pm
Overdose Deaths Fall Statewide as NJ Expands Harm Reduction Services in All Counties
NEW JERSEY - For the first time in over a decade, New Jersey has reported a decline in overdose deaths across all racial and ethnic groups, according to preliminary 2023 data from the state’s Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS). The decline comes as the New Jersey Department of Health announces the authorization of Harm Reduction Centers in all 21 counties, marking a substantial expansion of the state’s overdose prevention infrastructure.
[The CDC is reporting a 24% decline in overdose death in the United States for the 12 months ending in September 2024, compared to the previous year. This may, in part, be due to the wide availability of harm reduction services and over-the-counter access to Naloxone, a strategy pushed by the Biden Administration.]
"It is unprecedented to see predicted overdose deaths drop by more than 27,000 over a single year," said Allison Arwady, MD, MPH, Director of CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. "That's more than 70 lives saved every day. CDC's public health investments, our improved data and laboratory systems for overdose response, and our partnerships with public safety colleagues in every state mean that we are more rapidly identifying emerging drug threats and supporting public health prevention and response activities in communities across America."
In 2023, 2,816 New Jersey residents died from drug overdoses, a decrease from 3,171 in 2022. The decline occurred across all demographic groups, indicating early signs of progress in addressing the opioid crisis through a coordinated, statewide strategy emphasizing evidence-based interventions.
“The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on our nation, and too many families have suffered its consequences. By paying attention to the data and prioritizing harm reduction strategies over the past seven years, we have built a framework of supports to reduce the harms of substance use, streamline access to treatment, and support families in recovery,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “These strategies are saving lives. I am heartened to see this reduction in overdose deaths, and I look forward to the impact our growing network of Harm Reduction Centers will have as we work to put an end to the opioid crisis in New Jersey.”
The number of authorized Harm Reduction Centers in the state has grown from just seven at the beginning of the Murphy Administration to 53 today. These community-based programs offer supplies and services that reduce the risks associated with drug use, including naloxone distribution, sterile syringes, HIV and Hepatitis C prevention tools, and referrals to wraparound care. As of early 2024, 30 sites are operational, with 23 additional centers approved to open.
Harm Reduction Centers are one component of the state’s broader public health response to the overdose crisis. In 2023, the state served more than twice as many individuals through these centers as in the previous year. Preliminary 2024 data indicate that nearly 5,808 people have already received services—compared to 2,866 in 2023.
"Science is guiding our response to the overdose crisis, and the data confirms we're on the right track," said New Jersey Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston, MD. "The reduction in overdose deaths coincides with our expanded harm reduction infrastructure, increased access to medications for opioid use disorder, and broader naloxone distribution. When we follow the evidence rather than ideology, we save lives—and that's exactly what we're seeing in communities across New Jersey."
Despite the positive trends, overdose remains a leading cause of preventable death in New Jersey. More than seven residents die from overdoses each day, and racial disparities persist. Non-Hispanic Black residents continue to experience overdose death rates approximately twice as high as those of non-Hispanic White residents. Substance use disorders are also the leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths in the state.
The progress comes amid substantial investments supported by opioid settlement funds. Since 2022, New Jersey has secured over $1 billion through settlements with pharmaceutical companies and distributors connected to the opioid epidemic. In 2023 alone, more than $120 million of these funds were allocated to opioid response efforts, including $24 million toward harm reduction expansion and $28.5 million to increase access to medication-based treatment.
In January 2024, legislation was signed expanding the scope of harm reduction services, authorizing the distribution of tools to detect xylazine—a veterinary tranquilizer increasingly found in the drug supply. Meanwhile, new policies have improved access to medications for addiction treatment (MAT), such as buprenorphine. Changes include eliminating restrictive prescribing rules, enhancing Medicaid reimbursement, and authorizing paramedics to begin treatment in the field.
The state has also broadened naloxone access through initiatives like Naloxone365, which provides the overdose-reversal drug for free and anonymously to residents over age 14 at more than 700 pharmacies. The Naloxone DIRECT program has distributed the medication to over 1,400 organizations statewide.
New Jersey officials attribute the reduction in overdose deaths to these coordinated, data-driven strategies. While challenges remain, state leaders continue to prioritize harm reduction and equitable access to care as central components of the response to substance use and overdose.
