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Gov. Christie Gives Personal Story At Addiction Summit

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Gov. Chris Christie is the featured guest at a summit in Newark that focuses on the wide-ranging effects of drug addiction.

Christie told attendees at The New Hope Baptist Church about a former law school classmate who had a family and successful career. But the classmate became addicted to painkillers and alcohol and recently passed away.

The governor also discussed Tuesday the backlash he received from some after he ordered state flags flown at half-staff after the death of singer Whitney Houston, who had struggled with addiction.

Christie has labeled the so-called "war on drugs" a failure and has pushed for changing drug laws and offering offenders treatment instead of incarceration.

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