Since last year, more than $95 million from a federal opioid settlement has been distributed to New Jersey, its 21 counties and 241 municipalities to fight addiction. But investing that capital is off to a slow start — about 6.2% has been appropriated — even as the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner reports nearly 2,300 suspected drug deaths so far in 2023.
Food stamp administrators in Pennsylvania and New Jersey currently are waiving work requirements and are hoping to be able to continue those waivers for many SNAP recipients.