Is Heroin Addiction Really that Bad in NJ?

There are many communities throughout New Jersey which are currently experiencing heroin problems. The issue with heroin in the state is serious and many people have fallen prey to the drugs allure.  At a town meeting in Howell, retired DEA agent Douglas Collier spoke about the effects of heroin and what it has done to the people of New Jersey. 

Which city in NJ has the highest rate of heroin abuse?

In 2012, Newark had a reported 1,827 cases of heroin abuse.  Within the past several months there have been numerous arrests made including two men who were charged with transporting more than 1,000 bags of heroin.  Cases such as these are sad, but mark the reality of just how hard the drug has hit the state.

What is “Operation Hats Off”?

In December of 2012, in Monmouth County, New Jersey police began a heroin sting operation called “Operation Hats Off.”  Many of the people charged in the operation were from a sect of the Bloods Gang known as the Fruit Town Brims.  During the eight months of the undercover operation, more than 1,000 bags of heroin were sold to undercover police detectives; the product had a street value of approximately $2 million.

What has caused the shift to heroin?

During 2011 and 2012, prescription drug abuse led to more than 700 deaths within the state according to statistical information released by the New Jersey assistant state medical examiner.  There is an overdose epidemic going on in the state of New Jersey and right now it has reached epic proportions.  It is believed the shift from prescription drugs to heroin was made because the drug is much cheaper and because of its higher purity it is more deadly than in the past.

What is it going to take to stop the heroin madness?

Heroin is a horrible drug and it is responsible for many countless numbers of deaths in the state of New Jersey, as well as the United States as a whole.  Thankfully, there is hope, because the more law enforcement cracks down on the drug, the less of it there is on the streets.  For those who are struggling with heroin addiction, there are many programs to help them become clean, but it is a battle which can be life-long unless someone agrees to stop and seeks treatment.

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