Nearly half of a million doses of the opioid antidote naloxone have been used or given away by New Jersey officials over the past five years, enabling first responders, community organizations, school officials and others to save someone from a potentially fatal drug overdose.

But as state and local governments and nonprofit organizations continue to expand naloxone programs, some lawmakers believe it's time for a single person to oversee New Jersey's bulk purchase and distribution of the drug, sold as Narcan.

Which is why the state is searching for a Narcan czar.

The Assembly Health Committee voted yesterday in favor of a bill that would create the position of Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator within the Department of Human Services, which oversees many of New Jersey's treatment and harm reduction services and the current distribution what is sold over-the-counter to residents over the age of 14.

So what are the qualifications for the job and how do you.

To break it all down, health care reporter Lilo Stainton joins me.

So, Lilo, what's causing the need for a rule like this here in the state?

Well, it's interesting.

I mean, New Jersey has really ramped up its efforts to get naloxone into the hands of people who need it.

Right.

And that's what every expert says.

You know, this is not a medicine that you can run to the drugstore for when you need it.

You need to have it in your bag, in your purse, you know, in your truck.

A lot of people carry it in their trunk.

So, you know, the state has done a lot to get toward that objective.

They've gotten a portal where people and groups can sign up and get Narcan through the Department of Human Services.

It's distributed to law enforcement, all kind of, you know, police, fire, EMS librarians often have, you know, people in schools.

So the question really is, do we need someone in the state level to sort of coordinate the purchasing and distribution of this?

It's not an argument I've heard before.

But, you know, when you think about the numbers maybe it makes sense.

Right.

No, absolutely.

And so why do you think this is critical to the state's efforts to eliminate drug overdoses in general?

Yeah.

I mean, I think however the state decides to go forward, it is exactly about getting it into those people's hands.

Right.

I have heard from a lot of people there's a lot of interest in a new program.

The state the Department of Human Services has started that would it would essentially you know, really partners with groups like the Newark Community Street Team.

Black Lives Matters in Paterson, folks like that who have been working with these individuals, people who use drugs, people who may not be likely to ever stop.

Right.

Let's be honest.

Some people aren't going to.

Right.

So how do we get, you know, how do we keep them alive?

You know, they are somebody's mother, sister, uncle, brother.

So, you know, it's getting it to those people who have relationships with individuals who are using drugs, who who, you know, aren't necessarily going to the doctor or going to a clinic and have other ways to get any kind of treatment.

And, you know, if they can have naloxone and to reverse an opioid overdose, you know, that's another life saved.

Yeah, absolutely.

And so when we kind of refocus on this position, right.

For anyone who's listening who may think they are the person for the job, what are the requirements that are needed for this role?

Who can apply?

What does it involve?

Right.

So this is still super early in the process.

The bill isn't it hasn't passed.

So who knows if it would become law?

You know, it sounds like something Governor Murphy would support.

But, you know, he might also say we have someone doing that job.

I think what they were looking for, though, in in the in the at least the draft bill, is someone with experience, either in addiction, in community, you know, through law enforcement, someone who is a health care worker or someone, you know, someone who obviously had some experience around people who needed naloxone.

And, you know, that makes sense.

Thank you so much health care reporter Lilo Stainton for joining me.

Excellent reporting per usual.

Thank you, Raven.

Good to talk to you.