Drug Deaths Mount in County; HopeOne Visits Rio Grande

COURT HOUSE – Figures compiled by the state Office of the Attorney General detail the scope of drug-related deaths statewide and by county.
From Jan. 1 to July 1, 2018, there have been 1,499 overdose deaths statewide.
In Cape May County for the same period there were 16 suspected overdose deaths. Naloxone was administered 96 times. Also in that time 38,876 opioid prescriptions were dispensed.
For the first six months of 2017, there were a total of 29 drug-related deaths in the county.
By months last year, the totals were: June, 6, May, 2, April, 2, March, 9, February, 5, January, 5.
HopeOne – Cape May County
A recently-introduced program from the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office is HopeOne-Cape May County. It is a mobile community outreach vehicle, formerly a van that sold produce to county workers.
Prior to its July 3 visit to the parking lot of Rio Station Restaurant in Rio Grande, County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland stated in a release that the initial rollout had been a “huge success for the community.”
Sutherland told the Herald that about 30 visited the van during that stop. Of those, 15 were trained in the use of Narcan. One person was given access to inpatient substance use treatment.
He noted the exceptionally hot weather on that day, and added, “I thought we did well. Especially getting a person into inpatient rehab.”
The next HopeOne visit will take place July 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Wildwood Boardwalk at Schellenger Avenue.
Sutherland noted that the van was a result of the collaborative efforts of the agencies that worked to produce the endeavor. They included Cape Assist Center for Addiction Recovery Education and Success, Christians United for Recovery (CURE), Cape Counseling Behavioral Healthcare Services, Cape Addiction Recovery Services (CARES) and Access to Reproductive Care and HIV Services (ARCH).
HopeOne takes addiction services to families and persons who need help who are struggling with addiction to drugs, such as opioids.
HopeOne is staffed by a county detective, licensed clinician, certified peer recovery specialist and (ARCH) nurse. All understand the needs of those with addiction.
HopeOne provides clients with immediate access to services and treatment facilities, putting them on the road to recovery and wellness prior to having contact with law enforcement and avoiding an overdose, which may lead to death.
Additionally, training for Naloxone (also known as Narcan) is administered onsite to family members and friends of those with opioid addictions upon completion of the training.
The goal of HopeOne is “to provide addiction services to clients prior to them having contact with the criminal justice system.” Further, it prevents people from overdosing on dangerous drugs.
Sutherland extended his gratitude to Richard Rutherford, owner of Rio Station Restaurant,” for allowing HopeOne to make its recent stop in the parking lot to engage the community.