After a tumultuous second run for president in 2016 – a race where he never held more than 5% of the vote – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie returned to his home state facing career-low job approval ratings.
Christie’s “legacy” is tainted in many ways. His Lt. Governor, Kim Guadagno is running to take his place, with a message of rebuking Christie’s tenure. Many of his aides are facing possible jail time as fallout from the “Bridgegate” scandal. To add insult to injury, Christie was once looking at a top spot in the Trump Administration, only to have all hope of such prospects literally destroyed overnight.
Perhaps out of the kindness of his heart – or perhaps to go out on a good note – Christie is spending his final days as New Jersey Governor trying to tackle the major epidemic of opioid abuse in his state.
At one of those town halls, Christie gave a deeply-impassioned and personal speech about the plague of drug addiction – specifically opioid abuse. Like his home state of New Jersey, New Hampshire and much of the northeast and Appalachia continue to be ravaged by drugs.
Rather than sticking to his typical tough guy bravado, in the video – which was viewed more than 14 million times – the then-presidential candidate urged viewers to look at addiction as an illness to be treated, not a personal choice to be condemned.
Now, on his way out of the door, Christie is rolling out a project dubbed Reach NJ – a website and corresponding helpline that connects New Jersians to information about where to find help with addiction.
To advertise the project’s launch, Christie released a political ad, “Help is Within Reach.” We first see Christie in his office as he tells the camera, “New Jersians with drug addiction deserve a second chance. New Jersey is making it easier to find treatment.” He then unveils the phone number and website – adding a snappy tagline: “One number, one website. A clear path to help. Reach out and help the many lives affected by this awful disease. Don’t suffer, don’t wait. Helps is within reach.”
In a series of three videos, New Jersians tell personal stories about how opioid addiction changed their lives. Check them out below.
Christie’s “legacy” is tainted in many ways. His Lt. Governor, Kim Guadagno is running to take his place, with a message of rebuking Christie’s tenure. Many of his aides are facing possible jail time as fallout from the “Bridgegate” scandal. To add insult to injury, Christie was once looking at a top spot in the Trump Administration, only to have all hope of such prospects literally destroyed overnight.
Perhaps out of the kindness of his heart – or perhaps to go out on a good note – Christie is spending his final days as New Jersey Governor trying to tackle the major epidemic of opioid abuse in his state.
Chris Christie Seeks to Leave His Mark on Drug Addiction
The spotlight didn’t shine on Chris Christie very much during the presidential primary, but in late October 2015, Christie held the record for hosting the most town hall meetings in New Hampshire – allowing him to briefly benefit from a surge in the polls.At one of those town halls, Christie gave a deeply-impassioned and personal speech about the plague of drug addiction – specifically opioid abuse. Like his home state of New Jersey, New Hampshire and much of the northeast and Appalachia continue to be ravaged by drugs.
Rather than sticking to his typical tough guy bravado, in the video – which was viewed more than 14 million times – the then-presidential candidate urged viewers to look at addiction as an illness to be treated, not a personal choice to be condemned.
Now, on his way out of the door, Christie is rolling out a project dubbed Reach NJ – a website and corresponding helpline that connects New Jersians to information about where to find help with addiction.
To advertise the project’s launch, Christie released a political ad, “Help is Within Reach.” We first see Christie in his office as he tells the camera, “New Jersians with drug addiction deserve a second chance. New Jersey is making it easier to find treatment.” He then unveils the phone number and website – adding a snappy tagline: “One number, one website. A clear path to help. Reach out and help the many lives affected by this awful disease. Don’t suffer, don’t wait. Helps is within reach.”
New Jersians Share their Addiction and Treatment Stories
Perhaps more effective than Christie’s political ad is the addition of three personal testimonials working with the Reach NJ project.In a series of three videos, New Jersians tell personal stories about how opioid addiction changed their lives. Check them out below.