The results are in from NCADD-NJ’s 2017 Survey of the 225
State Senate and Assembly Democratic and Republican candidates. 57 individuals
addressed the written eight areas, and both the questions and their answers are
available for viewing as a slider on the homepage of the NCADD-NJ website at www.ncaddnj.org. Many of the respondents also
elaborated on their thinking at various points of the questionnaire. All of the
candidates received numerous questionnaires from many organizations on a
number of topics, and we are grateful to those persons who took the issue of
addictions seriously enough to make the time to share their policy preferences
with us. NCADD-NJ is non-partisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates
for public office.
Of the 57 candidates who responded to our survey:
* 26 were incumbents, 25 were challengers, and 6 were running
for an open seat
* 23 were Republicans and 34 were Democrats
* 52 view addiction as an illness
* 43 believe treatment is very effective
* 52 pledged to support funding to ensure that therapy is
available to those who need it
* 44 support mandating that anyone revived from an opioid
overdose be transported (with their consent) to a detox or treatment program
* 40 want to see opioid blockers kept on supply in public
places, e.g. schools, libraries, sports stadiums, etc.
* 45 endorse the expansion of the number of Recovery
Community Centers, and
* 43 support using public funds to do so
* 22 endorse the legalization and regulation of marijuana,
and
* 36 support its de-criminalization (a number of respondents
endorse both)
* 14 would leave present marijuana prohibition laws in place
and unchanged
* 47 approve of criminal records expungement relief for
individuals who can demonstrate long-term recovery
* 55 want to expand alternatives to incarceration for
non-violent drug offenders
* 42 wish to restrict the use of isolated confinement in
prisons and jails
* 52 approve the enhancement of drug, alcohol, and mental
health programs in lock-up facilities
