Today, Governor Phil Murphy announced the nomination of Matthew Platkin to serve as the next Attorney General for New Jersey. The nomination of Mr. Platkin to be the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in the state comes at a time when New Jersey is perpetuating a punitive and costly drug war as it continues to experience record drug overdose deaths. The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has an active directive naming drug war enforcement as a “number one priority” and requiring all overdose deaths to be investigated as homicides, which both run contrary to public health best practices and can be reversed by Attorney General action. In response, the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition releases the following statement.

Jenna Mellor, Executive Director of New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition:

“The appointment of a new Attorney General is an incredible opportunity for New Jersey to emerge as a national leader on issues of drug policy. In his new role, Mr. Platkin has the ability to reverse New Jersey’s long standing commitment to drug war punishments and replace them with policies of healing, harm reduction, and investment in the Black and Hispanic/Latinx communities most harmed by the drug war. This work starts with ending drug war arrests and prosecutions.

“We applaud Governor Murphy’s commitment to harm reduction and look forward to working with him and his Attorney General nominee, Matt Platkin, on treating drug use as a public health issue and not a criminal one.”

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New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition promotes harm reduction by distributing naloxone, fentanyl test steps, and other harm reduction supplies through peer-led programs; advocates for syringe access expansion and equitable drug policy reform; and organizes to build power among people directly harmed by overdose and the War on Drugs. 

To request naloxone (brand name Narcan) and safer use supplies, mailed for free and confidentiality throughout New Jersey, call/text 1-877-4NARCAN or visit www.nextdistro.org/newjersey.