Prosecutor Knapp, Former Governor McGreevey address opioid epidemic
Published on September 19, 2017
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and former Governor James McGreevey were among the speakers Sunday at Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael for a program about the growing opioid and heroin crisis facing Morris County and New Jersey.
The event was part of the Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael's Lifelong Learning Program and highlighted how to stop the abuse of prescription drugs, the signs of drug abuse and addiction and what can be done about it. Rabbi David Nesson moderated the program, which was attended by approximately 75 members of the congregation.
The figures are sobering.
An estimated 60,000 people died in 2016 of drug-related overdoses in the United States, which exceeds the total number of Americans killed during the Vietnam War. In Morris County, there have been 52 opioid overdose deaths the first six months of 2017, which is ahead of last year's pace
Prosecutor Knapp said, Law enforcement has now recognized that we must engage drug addiction on multiple levels, including education, traditional interdiction and rehabilitation. We cannot arrest our way out of this epidemic.
One of the speakers, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brad Seabury, head of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Special Operations Division, said part of the allure of opioids is that they are cheap and plentiful. One antidote to opioids is the drug, Narcan, which can save individuals from overdosing. Seabury said 90 individuals in Morris County have been rescued by Narcan through June of this year. Seabury explained that addiction is a disease and must be dealt with accordingly through treatment and rehabilitation.
The Morris County Prosecutor's Office in May began the Narcan 2.0 program mandating that those revived by Narcan are offered a chance to meet with a peer recovery specialist and to enter treatment.
Former Governor McGreevey said the opioid crisis is universal, noting that problems with addiction cross economic, geographic and all racial and ethnic lines. He also talked about how heroin and other opioids are even more fatal when laced with fentanyl, which was developed to help people suffering from chronic and severe pain. The former governor said it may be necessary for the Food and Drug Administration to explore whether the value of drugs such as fentanyl are worth the harm they can cause.
Other speakers included Barbara Kauffman, director of prevention services for Morris County Prevention is Key, Alton Robinson, lead peer recovery specialist at Morris County Cares, and Kate Garrity, who lost a child to addiction.
For inquiries about this release, contact Fred Snowflack at (973) 829-8159, or fsnowflack@co.morris.nj.us.