By Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul

We have news to report about recent accomplishments in the State Assembly and in Legislative District 11.

In Trenton, we assisted in introducing legislation to help people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) get their medication refilled more efficiently.  

ADHD is a chronic condition that can affect people of all ages and can include symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggression, and difficulty focusing. About 4.4 percent of New Jersey adults between the ages of 18 and 44 have ADHD. But we most often hear about ADHD in children because they have a higher rate of occurrence. Statistics surrounding ADHD treatment and diagnosis show that: In 2011, an estimated 7.8 percent of New Jersey youth between the ages of four and 17 were reported to have an ADHD diagnosis.

When children go off their ADHD medications and their symptoms return, it can create difficulties in learning for themselves and others.

We recently heard from parents who reported having difficulty filling their child’s prescription because their pharmacy was out of medicine because of a shortage caused by federal policies. The pharmacist could not transfer their child’s prescription to another pharmacy online or over the phone because it is a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance under federal law. Currently, when a patient is unable to fill a prescription for ADHD medications at a particular pharmacy, the patient must ask their health care provider to send a new prescription to a different pharmacy. That can take time and lead to challenges, especially in school.

New Jersey does allow for transfers of Schedule III-V controlled dangerous substance prescriptions. Our bill would expand allowable transfers to include Schedule II prescriptions in order to give greater flexibility to people attempting to fill ADHD prescriptions. It’s gratifying to report that the Assembly Health Committee passed our bill last week because the best way to support our youth with ADHD is to ensure they have access to the tools and resources they need, including timely and consistent medication. 

Closer to home, we hosted a Pride Month Celebration in Asbury Park honoring local LGBQT+ leaders. We were grateful to see such a strong turnout at the Parlor Gallery and we’d like to thank everyone who helped make the event a success. We got to hear keynote speaker Assemblyman Don Guardian, NJ’s first openly gay Republican state legislator, tell his inspiring story. 

We also want to thank our honorees for their unifying words and all they do to make our communities fairer places to live and work. We recognized Franklin Cumberbatch of Asbury Park; Isabella Ferraira, Long Branch; Robyn Gigl, Bradley Beach; Laura McBride, Ocean; Carol Torre, Neptune; and the Paradise Nightclub and Bar of Asbury Park.

We are proud that Assemblywoman Peterpaul’s bipartisan legislation to establish a process for LGBTQ+ business owners to receive state certification has been signed into law. LGBTQ+ businesses are now eligible for various state initiatives, including funding and contracts, similar to existing certifications for women, people of color, and veterans offered by the state Treasury Department.

When we help create more inclusive communities that celebrate our diversity, we make New Jersey a safer, fairer, and more affordable place for everyone.