Lawmakers are set to announce a bipartisan effort aimed at curbing heroin and prescription drug abuse in New Jersey.
They plan to unveil a 21-bill package during a news conference in Trenton Wednesday.
Sen. Joseph Vitale, who chairs the Senate's health committee, says the state needs treatment, education and prevention efforts that seek to curb addiction to heroin and opiates.
Heoin use has expanded dramatically within the last year, forcing local police to step up and face the issue head on.
In June, Chris Christie announced an initiative to allow New Jersey police to carry an overdose antidote.
Drug dealers are seeing harsher punishments, too. One drug dealer from South Jersey was sentenced to six years in prison after a man died from an overdose.
Just last week, Philadelphia Suburbs announced an overdose task force, one of several in the country. The local impact of increased drug use is a reflection of a national heroin use trend.
