Christie Negotiates Discount On Heroin Overdose Drug

Jason Cherkis
Updated
ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 02: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and possible Republican presidential candidate speaks during the Rick Scott's Economic Growth Summit held at the Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Convention Center on June 2, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. Many of the leading Republican presidential candidates are scheduled to speak during the event. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Photo: )

WASHINGTON -- New Jersey's first responders and government agencies charged with addressing the opioid epidemic got a boost Thursday from Gov. Chris Christie, a potential GOP presidential candidate. Christie said he had completed a deal to purchase naloxone, a drug that can revive an overdose victim, at a 20 percent discount from its California-based maker, Amphastar.

According to The Associated Press:

Amphastar will refund New Jersey $6 per dose sold to qualifying agencies and the state will distribute the rebates to the groups. The state says the average cost of a syringe is about $29. The price of the drug has doubled since Amphastar went public a year ago, causing some public health advocates to worry that agencies will not be able to pay for the amount they need to save lives. The company has said that the price increase is because of rising costs of raw materials, energy and labor.

The company has made similar deals with Ohio and New York, AP reported.

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A year ago, Christie expanded a naloxone program from a few counties to all of New Jersey, declaring the war on drugs an "abject failure."

“Back in March, we empowered 28,000 EMTs throughout the state by allowing them to administer Narcan,” Christie said in June 2014, referring to naloxone by its brand name. “As a result, police officers and EMTs are now trained to be equipped to administer the antidote to overdose victims. Just since April, more than 40 opiate overdoses in the two counties have been reversed and 40 lives have been saved because of it. It means 40 individuals now have a second chance at life.”

Christie, who made his name as a prosecutor, has emphasized treating addicts over simply locking them up. "We have tried for 40-plus years for a war on drugs that is wide and broad," the governor said at a forum last year, "and it hasn’t worked. It hasn’t worked. What works is giving those people -- nonviolent drug offenders, addicts -- the ability to be able to get the tools they need to be able to deal with this disease. I doubt that there is a person in this room who hasn’t had the problem of drug and alcohol addiction touch their family or neighbors."

The opioid epidemic and how the presidential candidates propose to address it may become a factor on the campaign trail. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has started engaging on the issue. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) recently helped introduce legislation that would improve access to treatment for opioid addicts. Christie recently visited a drug rehabilitation facility in New Hampshire.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) -- Announced March 23, 2015

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), his wife Heidi and their two daughters wave on stage after he announced his campaign for president, Monday, March 23, 2015 at Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Va. Cruz, who announced his candidacy on Twitter in the early morning hours, was the first major candidate to officially enter 2016 race for president.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), his wife Heidi and their two daughters wave on stage after he announced his campaign for president, Monday, March 23, 2015 at Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Va. Cruz, who announced his candidacy on Twitter in the early morning hours, was the first major candidate to officially enter 2016 race for president.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) -- Announced April 7, 2015

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) announces the start of his presidential campaign, Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky. Paul launched his 2016 presidential campaign Tuesday with a combative message against both Washington and his fellow Republicans, declaring that "we have come to take our country back."
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) announces the start of his presidential campaign, Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky. Paul launched his 2016 presidential campaign Tuesday with a combative message against both Washington and his fellow Republicans, declaring that "we have come to take our country back."

Former Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton -- Announced April 12, 2015

Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. Sectetary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to employees of Whitney Brothers, an educational furniture manufacturer, at a round table discussion on April 20, 2015 in Keene, New Hampshire. This marked Clinton's first major political event in New Hampshire after announcing her campaign for president a little over a week before. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) -- Announced April 13, 2015

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) smiles as he speaks to supporters as he announces that he is running for the Republican presidential nomination, during a rally at the Freedom Tower, Monday, April 13, 2015, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) smiles as he speaks to supporters as he announces that he is running for the Republican presidential nomination, during a rally at the Freedom Tower, Monday, April 13, 2015, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) -- Announced April 30, 2015

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks to the media about his agenda in running for president, Thursday, April 30, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks to the media about his agenda in running for president, Thursday, April 30, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Ben Carson -- Announced May 4, 2015

Ben Carson announces his candidacy for president during an official announcement in Detroit on Monday, May 4, 2015. Carson, 63, a retired neurosurgeon, begins the Republican primary as an underdog in a campaign expected to feature several seasoned politicians.
Ben Carson announces his candidacy for president during an official announcement in Detroit on Monday, May 4, 2015. Carson, 63, a retired neurosurgeon, begins the Republican primary as an underdog in a campaign expected to feature several seasoned politicians.

Carly Fiorina -- Announced May 4, 2015

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom 15th Annual Spring Kick Off, in Waukee, Iowa, Saturday, April 25, 2015.
Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom 15th Annual Spring Kick Off, in Waukee, Iowa, Saturday, April 25, 2015.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) -- Announced May 5, 2015

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee salutes supporters in Hope, Ark., after announcing Tuesday, May 5, 2015, that he is seeking the Republican nomination in the race for president.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee salutes supporters in Hope, Ark., after announcing Tuesday, May 5, 2015, that he is seeking the Republican nomination in the race for president.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) -- Announced May 27, 2015

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential race on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 in Cabot, Pa. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential race on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 in Cabot, Pa. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Former New York Gov. George Pataki (R) -- Announced May 28, 2015

Former New York Gov. George Pataki announces his plans to seek the Republican nomination for president, Thursday, May 28, 2015, at the historic town hall in Exeter, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
Former New York Gov. George Pataki announces his plans to seek the Republican nomination for president, Thursday, May 28, 2015, at the historic town hall in Exeter, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) -- Announced May 30, 2015

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley speaks during an event to announce his candidacy for a presidential campaign May 30, 2015 at Federal Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland. O'Malley was the third Democrat, after former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), to throw his hat in the ring for the Democratic nomination. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) -- Announced June 1, 2015

CENTRAL, SOUTH CAROLINA - JUNE 1: U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) gives a speech where he announced his candidacy for United States President during an outdoor event on June 1, 2015 in Central, South Carolina. Graham is the ninth Republican to join the race for president in 2016. (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)
CENTRAL, SOUTH CAROLINA - JUNE 1: U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) gives a speech where he announced his candidacy for United States President during an outdoor event on June 1, 2015 in Central, South Carolina. Graham is the ninth Republican to join the race for president in 2016. (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

Former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (D) -- Announced June 3, 2015

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) -- Announced June 4, 2015

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) -- Announced June 15, 2015

Business Mogul Donald Trump (R) -- Announced June 16, 2015

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) -- Announced June 24, 2015

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) -- Announced June 30, 2015

Former Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) -- Announced July 2, 2015

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) -- Announced July 13, 2015

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.