TRENTON — The Assembly will vote this week on legislation that would require New Jersey pharmacists to submit monthly reports on prescriptions for the human growth hormone steroid. The measure came about after a recent newspaper investigation uncovered widespread steroid abuse in numerous police and fire departments across the state. It also found that many of the officers paid...
TRENTON — The Assembly will vote this week on legislation that would require New Jersey pharmacists to submit monthly reports on prescriptions for the human growth hormone steroid.
The measure came about after a recent newspaper investigation uncovered widespread steroid abuse in numerous police and fire departments across the state. It also found that many of the officers paid for the drugs with their public health benefits.
HGH is not a controlled dangerous substance under federal and state laws and isn't monitored by the state.
But the measure up for a vote Monday would add it to New Jersey's prescription monitoring program, which was created in 2007 to monitor controlled dangerous substances dispensed in most outpatient settings.
"This steroid abuse is frightening from both a public policy and public health perspective," said Assemblyman Herb Conaway, D-Delanco, one of the bill's primary sponsors who also is a physician. "Taxpayers have been stung and public safety has been put at risk, as has the health of the abusers. We cannot sit idly by and let this abuse continue. This bill is a step in the proper direction."
Conaway and other proponents cite the investigation conducted by The Star-Ledger of Newark, the state's largest newspaper, which in December reported that hundreds of police, firefighters and corrections officers were using the drugs to build up their strength.
It also found that at least 248 officers and firefighters from 53 agencies obtained muscle-building drugs from a now-deceased Jersey City physician, including some that have been linked to increased aggression, confusion and reckless behavior.
"State taxpayers have been wrongly paying for millions of dollars in insurance costs for prescriptions that were, in many cases, issued illegally," said Deputy Assembly Speaker John McKeon, D-West Orange, another primary sponsor of the bill. "Taxpayers also have been footing the bill for the side effects of this abuse. It's long past time for this outrage to finally stop. Taxpayers and public safety deserve better."
Besides Conaway and McKeon, the bill's other primary sponsors in the Assembly are Democrats Ruben Ramos Jr. of Hoboken and Valerie Vainieri Huttle of Englewood. It was approved by the Health and Senior Services committee in late January.
Identical legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), and referred to the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens committee, which has not yet scheduled a hearing on the bill.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Assembly panel advances measure to better monitor steroid sales
• Heads of largest N.J. police unions support random steroids testing for officers
• Booming anti-aging business relies on risky mix of steroids, growth hormone
• N.J. lawmaker calls on attorney general to investigate steroids, HGH use among law enforcement
• Strong at Any Cost: Five deaths in 19 months linked to steroids, Lowen's pharmacy
• N.J. doctor supplied steroids to hundreds of law enforcement officers, firefighters
STRONG AT ANY COST
A three-part Star-Ledger series on the secret world of steroid use by law enforcement officers and firefighters.
• About this series
• List of law enforcement agencies, fire departments
• Glossary of terms
Part 1: Sunday
• N.J. doctor supplied steroids to hundreds of law enforcement officers, firefighters
• Five deaths in 19 months linked to steroids, Lowen's pharmacy
• Legal cases linked to N.J. police who received steroids through Dr. Colao
• Ex-Jets quarterback Ray Lucas was prescribed steroids, HGH by Dr. Colao
Part 2: Monday
• N.J. taxpayers get bill for millions in steroid, growth hormone prescriptions for cops, firefighters
• Ex-Harrison firefighter on disability works full-time for N.C. fire department
• N.J. lawmaker calls on attorney general to investigate steroids, HGH use among law enforcement
Part 3: Tuesday
• Booming anti-aging business relies on risky mix of steroids, growth hormone
Additional coverage:
• N.J. to investigate illegal steroid use by law enforcement officers
• N.J. suspends disability benefits for ex-Harrison firefighter working in N.C. fire department
• Heads of largest N.J. police unions support random steroids testing for officers
• Magazine for N.J. law enforcement contains ads for anabolic steroid providers
• Two bills to address steroid use among N.J. law enforcement officers, firefighters
• N.J. pension board members denounce former Harrison firefighter as a cheat, fraud
• N.J. Assembly panel approves stricter rules on growth hormone use