Opioid presentation comes to Randolph

Published on October 01, 2017

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday continued taking part in educational programs aimed at combatting the nation's growing opioid and heroin epidemic.

Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brad Seabury were among the speakers at the program in the Randolph High School auditorium attended by about 100 people.

Prosecutor Knapp spoke of his office's three-pronged approach to fighting the opioid addiction epidemic arresting and prosecuting for-profit drug dealers, treatment for users and educational programs like the one in Randolph. The prosecutor in May issued a directive mandating that individuals whose potentially fatal overdoses are reversed by the drug, Narcan, are put in contact with a Peer Recovery Specialist who would try to steer them into treatment. The initiative is known as Narcan 2.0.

In his presentation, Seabury noted that heroin is cheap and plentiful and that addiction affects all economic and demographic groups.

Heroin is in this room, Seabury said, noting that the lives of all are affected by this epidemic. Either as crime victims or as family members of substance abusers.

The numbers are alarming, according to Knapp. The 64,000 individuals who died from overdoses in the United States in 2016 exceeds the number of Americans (58,000) killed in the Vietnam War. Seabury said that on average, 142 people a day die from drug overdoses throughout the county. The number of people who have died from overdoses this year in Morris County already exceeds the 64 who died in 2016.

Ira Cohen, a municipal court judge in Randolph and other venues, said that judging from the defendants who come before him, the opioid problem may even be much bigger than people believe. He said he frequently encounters defendants who have been arrested multiple times for drug offenses.

Dr. Domenick Sportelli, a psychiatrist associated with St. Clare's Health System in Denville, said addiction often occurs because of genetics and because individuals are susceptible to enjoying the immediate pleasure, or high, that drugs can bring. Over time, however, the brain reacts and a person needs more and more drugs to attain that high. Sportelli said that makes addiction difficult to treat.

Morris County Sheriff James Gannon spoke about his effort to bring addiction treatment services to inmates in the Morris County Correctional Facility, as well as the use of a converted SWAT vehicle called Hope One, which provides assistance to those at risk throughout Morris County.

Also speaking were Barbara Kaufman, Director, prevention services, for Morris County Prevention is Key, (MCPIK), Alton Robinson, Chief Peer Recovery Specialist at MCPIK and Linda Witzal, Vice President of the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy.

Officer Richard DiBiase represented the Randolph Police Department and reminded those present of Drug Take-Back Day, on October 28, a program that allows people to bring their unwanted medication to various locations throughout Morris County including the Acme Supermarket in Randolph for safe disposal.

The program was sponsored by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Morris County PIK, the Randolph Municipal Alliance Committee, the Community Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Morris County and the Randolph Police Department.

For inquiries about this release, contact Public Information Officer Fred Snowflack at fsnowflack@co.morris.nj.us or at (973) 829-8159.