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AJR 19

Relating to: honoring April 22, 2025, as the 55th anniversary of Earth Day.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Clint Anderson and 46 co-sponsors

Designates October each year as Opioid Abuse Prevention Month to raise awareness and promote education, prevention, and recovery efforts; urges proclamations by the Governor.

Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
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Bill Summary · AJR 19

AJR 19 — “Opioid Abuse Prevention Month” (Joint Resolution) — Summary

Status: Introduced in Assembly; referred to committee. Adopted by Assembly 8/28/2025 (Ayes 62, Noes 4); transmitted to Senate.
Classification: Joint resolution (commemorative) — Subject: Drug abuse / public awareness.
Companion: SJR 83.

Purpose and intent

AJR 19 designates October of each year as “Opioid Abuse Prevention Month” to increase public awareness of opioid misuse, promote education about signs and consequences of opioid abuse, recognize prevention and recovery efforts, and encourage support for individuals and families affected by opioid addiction.

Key provisions

  • Designates October of each year as “Opioid Abuse Prevention Month.”
  • Calls for ongoing education about opioid abuse and its consequences.
  • Directs recognition and advancement of efforts to prevent opioid abuse, promote rehabilitation and recovery, and support affected individuals and families.
  • Requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing October as Opioid Abuse Prevention Month and to call on public officials and citizens to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
  • Resolution takes effect immediately upon adoption.

Findings and evidence cited (selected)

The resolution cites federal and state data to justify the designation, including:
- CDC statements that prescription opioid abuse is a “growing, deadly epidemic” and that overdose death rates have more than tripled since 1990.
- A ~300% increase in sales of opioid pain relievers since 1999.
- SAMHSA and DEA findings on the link from prescription opioid misuse to heroin use.
- State Commission of Investigation (New Jersey) data documenting sharp increases (2006–2011) in treatment admissions for opioid and heroin addiction (e.g., opioid treatment admissions rising from ~2,700 to ~8,600) and increases in mixed-drug deaths involving oxycodone and heroin.
- Public‑health impacts such as rises in HIV/hepatitis C associated with injection drug use.

Who is affected

  • This is a commemorative resolution; it does not create regulatory requirements or new programs.
  • It affects public awareness activities and signals state-level support for prevention, education, treatment, and recovery efforts — encouraging participation by state and local agencies, schools, law enforcement, health providers, community groups, and residents.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • No fiscal committee referral indicated in the legislative digest (no identified state cost).
  • Procedural history in the provided materials: introduced July 2, 2025; committee consideration and adoption actions in July 2025; Assembly adoption on 8/28/2025 and referral to the Senate Rules Committee.

Potential impact

  • Symbolic/awareness effect: may increase visibility of prevention and treatment resources, spur events and educational campaigns each October, and encourage coordination among stakeholders.
  • No direct funding or statutory changes; any programmatic impact would depend on subsequent executive, legislative, or agency actions allocating resources or creating initiatives tied to the observance.

Note: Submitted source materials include an unrelated version of an AJR (regarding the U.S. Department of Education) under the same bill number; the summary above focuses on the Opioid Abuse Prevention Month text and its legislative record as provided.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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