In a recent letter to the editor that appeared in The New York Times in response to its article "Has Fentanyl Peaked?", I joined other readers in discussing the hopeful trends we are seeing in drug overdose deaths, most of which are due to opioids. For the third year in a row, the number of deaths has dropped nationwide and in New Jersey. However, one overdose death is one person too many, and we need to continue our efforts to end this epidemic.

While increasing access to treatment services is essential, it’s not enough to keep the numbers heading in the right direction. Comprehensive, community-focused prevention programs teach people, especially children, the benefits of a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

Read my letter (accessible by creating a free account) here