U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. visited Metuchen on Tuesday to discuss legislation that aims to tackle the growing opioid epidemic.
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (6th-Dist.) on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, visited a Boyt Drugs pharmacy on Main Street in Metuchen to discuss legislation that aims to address the growing opioid and heroin epidemic in the state. METUCHEN -- The current heroin epidemic taking hold of the state and the country appears to be only growing more pervasive.
One of the reasons is the complexity of the issue.
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th Dist.) says no one program or piece of legislation is going to singlehandedly mitigate the problem. The effort, he says, must take a multi-pronged approach.
Pallone on Tuesday visited Boyt Drugs pharmacy in Metuchen to discuss legislation that he said would be an important component in addressing the growing epidemic in the New Jersey. Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan and Middlesex Freeholder Charles Kenny also attended the event.
The legislation is a 12-bill package that includes measures to address treatment, prevention, and recovery for opioid abuse.
The Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to vote on the legislative package this week, Pallone said, and if passed, he hoped the bills would be brought to the House floor in May.
Pallone outlined one of the components included in the bill package -- the Reducing Unused Medications Act, which would "empower patients, doctors, and their pharmacists to request a partial fill of opioid prescriptions," according to a statement from his office. The Act would prevent many unused opioids in homes from potentially being taken and sold illegally.
"Most people end up taking and borrowing a pill from a relative or friend," he said. "It's important (because) it prevents a lot of extra pills from laying around."
In roughly six years, more than 184,000 people have been admitted to substance abuse treatment facilities for heroin or opioid abuse, according to a previous NJ Advance Media article. More than 5,200 have died from heroin-related deaths since 2004, and 2014 was the fourth straight year the state experienced an increase in heroin-related deaths.
Middlesex County is the fourth-highest in the state for heroin-related deaths.
Pallone said people "Often start off with prescriptions and then move on."
"This really is an epidemic," said Pallone. "We have to address it (even though) it is something people do not like to talk about."
But, to adequately address the needs for treatment, prevention and recovery; Pallone said funding always remains an uphill battle.
Additionally, the bill package includes a measure to prevent the abuse of DXM -- an ingredient found in over-the-counter cough medicines used to get high. One of the components in the measure would require pharmacy retailers "to have verification systems in place to ensure those under the age 18 cannot purchase DXM," the statement said.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.