Call, Save a Life; Next Addiction Seminar Oct. 10

CREST HAVEN – Even as calendars are marked for Oct. 10 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. to discuss the drug addiction epidemic in Cape May County, the battle against heroin and its use continues in all municipalities by law enforcement agencies. Combined efforts of those assets focus on drug dealers.
Making a case against a drug dealer is not easy or quick as some imagine. Gathering sufficient information that will stand firm in a criminal trial means using informants, undercover buyers, and that takes time.
Some may wonder why, if they are aware of drugs in their neighborhood and suspect they are being dealt from a certain premises, police cannot sweep in and make an arrest and clean up a neighborhood? In some cases, such residences are well known to law enforcement officials, and may be under surveillance in an attempt to get evidence against someone higher up the drug-dealing chain. No dealer works on his or her own, but must rely on suppliers, often with links outside the county.
At the recent Lower Township seminar on drug addiction, County Prosecutor Robert Taylor told the crowd that, to date, 20 local residents have died because of heroin use. Part of the problem, he noted, is the purity of heroin being sold in the county. Due to its potency the drug may claim a life on first use.
On an almost daily basis, those monitoring a police radio’s Cape May County frequencies will hear rescue calls reporting cardiac arrests. Such calls are often an indication of a heroin overdose, or use in combination with other drugs.
Some of those calls may have been made by persons close to the user who has gone into cardiac arrest. Such persons are now immune from criminal prosecution under New Jersey’s ‘Good Samaritan Law.’ The initiative protects those who report drug overdoses.
Earlier this year, the Christie administration promoted the law with the slogan: “Save a life. Don’t think twice, just call 9-1-1.”
That public awareness message came from the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. It was the intent of the law and its promotion to “reduce the number of drug overdoses in New Jersey by protecting people who report them from criminal prosecution,” according to a release.
The campaign resulted from the acting Attorney General’s directive that law enforcement throughout New Jersey should comply with requirements of the “Overdose Prevention Act.”
The statute – also known as the Good Samaritan Law – was signed on May 2, 2013 by Gov. Christie. The campaign aimed to encourage people to immediately call emergency or medical personnel if they suspected someone of overdosing from illegal or prescription drugs.
The law states that the Legislature found and declared that encouraging witnesses and victims of drug overdoses to seek medical assistance saves lives and is in the best interests of citizens and, in instances where evidence was obtained as a result of seeking of medical assistance, these witnesses and victims should be protected from arrest, charge, prosecution, conviction, and revocation of parole or probation for possession or use of illegal drugs. It is not the intent of the Legislature to protect individuals from arrest, prosecution or conviction for other criminal offenses, including engaging in drug trafficking.
The legislation defines a drug overdose as “an acute condition including, but not limited to, physical illness, coma, mania, hysteria, or death resulting from the consumption or use of a controlled dangerous substance or another substance with which a controlled dangerous substance was combined and that a layperson would reasonably believe to require medical assistance.”
The new law also encourages wider prescription of antidotes that can counteract opioid overdoses.
As the killer drug epidemic continues, Freeholder Kristine Gabor will continue the dialogue on addiction that the county started with the first forum – “Putting a Face on Addiction” on Sept. 5. She will lead a second forum, “Giving a Voice to Addiction,” at the County Administration Building, 4 Moore Road, Court House.
The county wants to hear from families and those suffering from addiction, specifically in the following areas:
• What barriers did you face to getting treatment?
• What should be included in a treatment program?
• What would you like to see in recovery?
The public is encouraged to attend. There will be an opportunity for 25 people to sign-up to speak during this session.
However, everyone in attendance will have the opportunity to submit comments.
Those seeking more information should call 465-1055.