Herb Conaway Sponsors Legislation To Combat Substance Abuse

Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington) and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Bergen/Hudson) are co-sponsoring legislation that employs a multi-faceted approach to tackle the continuing opioid crisis in New Jersey from every angle, the Assemblymen announced on Wednesday.

Working together with both Senate leadership and the executive branch, Conaway and Prieto are fine-tuning legislation (A-3) that will employ a comprehensive approach to address the opioid epidemic, including stricter regulation of controlled dangerous substances, education on the dangers of abuse, comprehensive medical treatment for substance use disorder and greater insurance coverage for such treatment.

“As a practicing physician, I’ve seen the ravages of addiction firsthand,” Conaway said. “There are few medical issues more pressing than the opioid crisis right now and we need to treat it as such from a medical standpoint in order to breakdown the stigma and get people the real, substantive treatment they need.”

“While this legislation aims to prevent addiction to begin with, it also recognizes the realities that have taken hold, and substantially bolsters treatment options and health benefits for those that have succumbed to this epidemic,” Prieto said. “We are committed to working together with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, in both houses and in all branches of government because this is an issue that has touched the lives of nearly every New Jerseyan either directly or indirectly.”

Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union) introduced the bipartisan legislation in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The measure eliminates pre-authorizations for covering inpatient or outpatient substance abuse treatment for up to six months, including unlimited benefits at in-network facilities; limits initial prescriptions for opioid medications to five days, and requires doctors to discuss the dangers of opioid addiction with a patient or minor patient’s parent. It has bipartisan support in both the Assembly and the State Senate.

“When a person addicted to drugs seeks help they cannot wait days or weeks for an insurance carrier to decide if they will cover the treatment. They need immediate help,” Bramnick said. “This comprehensive bill removes the barriers to treatment, and also addresses prevention and education.”

The attached image of Herb Conaway was posted on njleg.state.nj.us.