Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday announced a broad attack on opioid addiction in New Jersey by adding it to the list of illnesses that qualify residents for medical marijuana and expanding Medicaid coverage for medication-assisted treatment, a scientifically proven method of preventing relapses.

Murphy’s announcement comes as the opioid crisis reaches new heights in the Garden State.

State data shows at least 3,100 residents likely died of drug overdoses in 2018, setting a record for the fourth straight year. Murphy noted the percentage increase was not as sharp, going from a 15 percent rise from 2017 to 2018, compared to the 24 percent rise from 2016 to 2017.

But we should take “little solace the percentage went down," Murphy said. "They are God’s children, and they are gone forever.”

At a press conference at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, Murphy and seven members of his cabinet outlined several new strategies that will help people seek the most effective addiction treatment available.

They include allowing medical marijuana, which already is recommended for people with chronic pain, to be available for patients with an opioid addiction, Murphy said.

State Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal noted there were two important studies last year that showed a lower overdose death rate and lower rate of opioid prescribing in states where medical cannabis is legal.

“We are pleased to announce that, as of today, opioid use disorder is a condition for which physicians can recommend medical marijuana to patients,” Elnahal said.

“We are also taking steps to ensure that these patients will be on medication assisted treatment for their addiction, in addition to marijuana," he added. "Finally, DOH is doubling down on syringe access programs and initiatives to reduce opioid prescribing, proven methods for reducing the impact of opioid addiction.”

Murphy’s strategy also includes $2 million to expand the services available from the locally-run seven syringe exchange programs, which allow injection drug users to turn over used needles and receive clean ones to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C.

Murphy credited his predecessor, Gov. Chris Christie, for enacting a law in 2017 which limited the prevalence and duration of opioid prescriptions. But as prescriptions have declined, he said, there has been an “exploding scourge” of fentanyl, which is often mixed with heroin. And it has produced a meteoric rise in drug deaths since it became common in New Jersey in 2015. Since then, nearly 10,000 have died.

At least 141 have already died from suspected drug overdoses in 2019 through Jan. 20, about 7 a day.

Murphy said medication assisted treatment is one of the most effective ways to break the addiction cycle because it blocks the high resulting from heroin or prescription opioids. It’s a treatment option that has been controversial in some circles because it has been seen as trading one drug for another, but those opinions are fading.

The fact that this treatment — also known as MAT — was not readily covered by Medicaid was a key barrier to more people using it, Murphy said. Starting April 1, however, no prior authorization will be required, he said.

And by July 1, all medicaid residential treatment providers must provide medication assisted treatment, Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson announced.

The state also will dedicate $15 million to boost reimbursement rates for primary care doctors who accept Medicaid program to provide addiction treatment services, Johnson said. The federal government will match that money to boost the effort, she said.

Used in conjunction with therapy, “we know MAT works," Murphy said. "We have to broaden (use of) that throughout the Medicaid system. It allows patients to remain in their communities, in their jobs and with their families.”

According to a report released last fall by the New Jersey Reentry Corporation, Heroin overdose deaths decreased by 37 percent after buprenorphine, one form of MAT, became available in Baltimore, according to the report. Yet only one-quarter of all treatment providers in the state offer medication assistant treatment, the report said.

Former Gov. James E. McGreevey, who through the Reentry Corporation helped produce that report, thanked the governor.

“I’m grateful," said McGreevey, who attended the press conference. "These are substantial steps.”

Day Top New Jersey, a drug treatment provider in north and central Jersey, also expressed support.

“Substance use is a disease in which waiting for an appointment or a prescription could be the difference between life and death,” said James C. Curtin, president and CEO of Daytop New Jersey. “We applaud Governor Murphy for removing the prior authorization requirement for Medicaid patients to receive Medication Assisted Treatment, making treatment more affordable, easier and quicker for those suffering from this devastating disease.”

NJ Advance Media staff writer Stephen Stirling contributed to this report.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.

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