By Associated Press - Friday, July 21, 2017

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Republican Gov. Chris Christie has signed several bills that take aim at the growing opioid epidemic.

Chief among them is a law that orders the Department of Human Services to post on its website daily information about open beds available in facilities for people needing mental health or substance use disorder treatment.

Christie has made battling opioid abuse a centerpiece of his second term in office. He was named by President Donald Trump to chair a commission tasked with combating drug addiction and the opioid crisis.

Among other bills Christie signed Friday was a measure requiring the Department of Education to develop a fact sheet on opioid abuse for student-athletes and cheerleaders, and a bill to allow hospice care programs to accept unused prescription medications for disposal under certain circumstances.

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