Bon Jovi Praises NJ Drug Overdose Law Signed By Governor Chris Christie

On Thursday, May 2^nd Governor Chris Christie of NJ signed into law a good Samaritan bill that will shield victims, and those seeking medical help for them, from prosecution in the case of reporting a drug overdose. The signing was attended by rock star Jon Bon Jovi, who called the law a lifesaver and encouraged other states to do the same.

"I hope that Governor Christie's actions here will cause other states to stand up and to pay attention and also to follow in his footsteps," Bon Jovi said before accompanying the Republican governor on a visit with patients at a drug rehabilitation center.

Last year, Bon Jovi's daughter overdosed on heroin in a dorm at Hamilton College in upstate New York. Charges against Stephanie Bongiovi and another student were eventually dropped under New Yorks's good Samaritan overdose-reporting law, but the incident was a great shock to the rocker and father of four.

"She was doing great. Then a sudden and steep decline. Hopefully, we caught it when we did and that's the end of it. But who knew?" said Bon Jovi.

Christie has called the war on drugs a failure, pushing for mandatory treatment for all non-violent drug offenders, "it's our obligation to ensure that we are doing everything we can to prevent tragic deaths from drug overdoses."

"This is a real triumph of public health policy and we thank Gov. Christie and the Legislature for working so hard to come to an agreement," said Roseanne Scotti, state director of the New Jersey Drug Policy Alliance, an advocacy group for drug policy reforms.

Under the new law, civil, criminal and professional immunity and protection will also be provided to health care professionals who prescribe or administer any FDA-approved treatment for drug overdoses, as well as lay people who administer antidotes in an emergency. The law also extends protection to those on probation and parole from being arrested, charged or prosecuted for small amounts of drugs when reporting an overdose.

The measure includes the core of two bills that the governor previously vetoed, as he insisted the new law spell out that no immunity will exist for drug traffickers. Protections were also removed for people with restraining orders against them and those facing forfeiture of assets.

New Jersey will become the 12th state to provide good Samaritan protections and the 11th to shield those who administer antidotes