Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
August 15, 2025
NJ Health Commissioner Tours Life-Saving Harm Reduction Center Ahead of Overdose Awareness Day
TLDR
- The Prevention Resource Network's innovative harm reduction services, including a 24/7 vending machine, offer a strategic advantage in combating the overdose crisis in New Jersey.
- PRN's harm reduction approach combines fixed-site, mobile, and vending machine services to deliver naloxone, sterile syringes, and direct pathways to treatment and support.
- PRN's work significantly reduces overdose deaths and disease spread, fostering a healthier, more inclusive community by meeting individuals where they are with compassion.
- A vending machine in Asbury Park dispenses life-saving supplies like naloxone and wound care kits, with nearly half used outside traditional hours.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it highlights innovative and compassionate approaches to tackling the opioid crisis, a leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S. The initiatives by PRN and support from NJDOH not only save lives but also offer a model for reducing stigma and improving access to care for those struggling with substance use. The success of these programs demonstrates the potential for harm reduction strategies to make a significant impact on public health, offering hope and practical solutions to communities nationwide.
Summary
In a significant move to combat the opioid crisis, Jeffrey Brown, Acting Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Health, toured the Prevention Resource Network’s Regional Harm Reduction Center in Asbury Park. This visit, ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day, highlighted PRN's innovative approaches to harm reduction, including a mobile harm reduction center and Monmouth County’s first 24/7 harm reduction vending machine. These initiatives have already shown promising results, distributing life-saving supplies like naloxone and sterile syringes, with a significant portion used outside traditional business hours. The tour underscored the importance of accessible, non-stigmatizing care for individuals struggling with substance use, with officials praising PRN's efforts to connect people to treatment and support services.
The event also marked the two-year anniversary of NJDOH’s approval of PRN’s mobile harm reduction center, a testament to the state's commitment to addressing the overdose epidemic. With over 80,000 Americans dying from drug overdoses in 2024, the need for such services has never been more critical. PRN's work, supported by VNA Health Group and its leaders like Christopher Rinn and Shannon Preston, exemplifies a compassionate, practical approach to public health, reducing overdose deaths and preventing the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by citybiz. Read the original source here, NJ Health Commissioner Tours Life-Saving Harm Reduction Center Ahead of Overdose Awareness Day
