Booker Announces Rory Ahern Act to Help Prevent Overdose Deaths Through Expanded NARCAN Access and Response Training

BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ - Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced the Rory Ahern Act, legislation to help prevent opioid overdose deaths by expanding access to naloxone (NARCAN), overdose response training, and lifesaving equipment. Senator Booker made the announcement at a roundtable he hosted at Brick Township EMS Rescue Station alongside Rory Ahern's mother, first responders, and other advocates.

The Rory Ahern Act is named in honor of Rory Ahern, a New Jersey resident who died from an opioid overdose at age 29. His mother saved his life multiple times by administering naloxone and has since become a fierce advocate for drug prevention and overdose awareness.

Naloxone can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose when administered in time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a potential bystander was present at nearly 43% of overdose deaths in 2023. The Rory Ahern Act would help ensure more people have the tools and training to respond when an overdose occurs.

"An overdose can turn into a matter of life and death in seconds, and I have heard directly from New Jerseyans who have lived through the terrifying moments of racing against the clock to save someone they love," said Senator Booker. " I'm proud to announce this lifesaving legislation to expand access to naloxone and the training to use it, so that no one loses a loved one to a preventable overdose."

"Fourteen years ago, I joined members of the recovery community and families, like my own, impacted by the opioid crisis, in advocating for greater access to naloxone in New Jersey, " said Tonia Ahern, Mother of Rory Ahern. Since the passage of New Jersey's Overdose Prevention Act in 2013, thousands of lives have been saved. However, without continued funding to support education, training, and resources for first responders and communities, more families and friends will experience the devastating loss of a loved one. Our family is honored and deeply grateful that Senator Booker recognizes the critical importance of naloxone education, access, and lifesaving equipment through the Rory Ahern Act. This legislation will help ensure that communities have the tools and knowledge needed to prevent overdose deaths and save lives."

"I would like to thank Senator Booker for choosing Brick Township as the location to introduce and promote the Rory Ahern Act, " said James Riccio, Chief of Brick Township EMS. We know that naloxone saves lives and because of grant programs such as this that will provide money not only for training but that will make naloxone available to a wider range of people in our communities, even more lives will be saved."

"Low-dose naloxone and oxygen are the most effective tools we have to reverse an overdose. These are lifesaving supplies, and this bill would get them in the hands of first responders across the country," said Lea Rumbolo, Senior Operations Manager at the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition. "We already know that harm reduction saves lives. What we need is for our federal policy and funding to follow the evidence. We're grateful to Senator Booker for working with the harm reduction community and championing this legislation."

"Opioid use disorder continues to be a public health crisis. However, we now have highly effective, evidence-based treatments, such as buprenorphine and methadone, that are proven to reduce deaths and other health complications of opioid use, while allowing patients to enter recovery and achieve their goals," said Jessica Moore, Emergency and Addiction Medicine Physician at Cooper Health. "Naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdose, is one of the critical components of medical care for patients with opioid use disorder. Ready availability of naloxone is essential in improving survival of opioid overdose and allowing affected patients the opportunity to be connected to long-term treatments."

The Rory Ahern Act would specifically establish a federal grant program to expand overdose response training and access to life-saving equipment. The grants would support training on recognizing opioid overdoses and administering oxygen and low-dose naloxone for first responders, including EMS, firefighters, and law enforcement; school personnel, including school nurses and other staff; and substance use treatment professionals. Grants would also help communities purchase equipment needed to respond to suspected opioid overdoses, including oxygen and low-dose naloxone devices.