Pallone Announces $1.3 Million DOJ Grant to Fight Opioid Epidemic in NJ

Long Branch, NJ – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that the State of New Jersey has been awarded a $1,279,255 grant through the Department of Justice’s FY 2016 COPS Anti-Heroin Task Force Program (AHTF). AHTF is a competitive grant program designed to advance public safety by providing funds to investigate illicit activities related to the distribution of heroin or unlawful distribution of prescriptive opioids, or unlawful heroin and prescription opioid traffickers through statewide collaboration. The New York/New Jersey area is considered a High Intensity Drug Trafficking area by the Department of Justice.

“We need to have a comprehensive effort to fight the opioid epidemic,” said Pallone. “I am encouraged by our work in Congress to empower communities to confront this crisis, but we also need law enforcement in New Jersey to have the tools to take on drug trafficking and the abuse of prescription drugs. I know that this grant will be put to good use by law enforcement and look forward to its implementation.”

Congressman Pallone has been a leader in combatting the opioid epidemic in New Jersey and throughout the country and was presented an award this week from the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose for his “tireless work to stop the opioid misuse, addiction and overdose epidemic.” He led efforts to pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which incorporates proven public health approaches to fight against the heroin and prescription drug abuse crisis. Congressman Pallone has also introduced legislation that would commit $500 million annually to help individuals at all stages of crisis, specifically those suffering from prescription opioid and heroin dependence.