TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - The Latest on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s anti-drug addiction efforts (all times local):
12:15 p.m.
Gov. Chris Christie says New Jersey will spend another $200 million on drug addiction programs, part of one of his final pushes as governor to tackle a nationwide crisis.
He said Tuesday at Integrity House in Newark that the funding will go toward “effective” programs already in place as well as new ones.
Christie says he’s doing this not only as governor but as head of President Donald Trump’s opioid commission and to “set an example” for how he thinks other officials should address the crisis.
Christie says the money will go toward programs including recovery coaches who help those mending from an overdose as well as requiring medical schools in the state to establish a curriculum on opioid addiction.
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12:30 a.m.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says President Donald Trump has reiterated his commitment to the idea of a national emergency declaration for the opioid crisis.
The Republican governor chairs the Republican president’s anti-opioid panel.
Christie outlined in an interim opioid commission report to Trump in July the “first and most urgent” recommendation was to declare a national emergency. But the effort has been delayed by legal and administrative questions.
Christie downplayed the White House’s delay in implementing the commission’s signature recommendation on Monday during a Trenton news conference. He says the delay stems from the administration wanting to get it “right” and its “unprecedented” nature.
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