Authorities Focus On Motels And Hotels In Fight Against Addiction

The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office has launched a new program aimed at saving lives at properties that have seen fatal overdoses and drug crimes. “Operation Safe Overnight” is a new program in which the prosecutor’s office has prioritized hotels and motels for its investigation activities, beginning this year.

“Operation Safe Overnight has both a lifesaving component and a less visible, but no less energetic, enforcement component. We have been working more closely with our local law enforcement partners to combat drug trafficking and other criminal activity at county hotels and motels,” Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said. “These efforts will continue through intelligence sharing and coordinated investigations and operations at properties where we suspect people may be dealing drugs.”

The program launched with an information and training session for employees from the roughly 75 hotels and motels in Burlington County, authorities announced. Police and emergency officials have deployed Narcan at hotels on multiple occasions since it first began being used outside of emergency rooms in 2014. There have been at least 15 fatal overdoses at motels and hotels in Burlington County in 2018, according to authorities.

Since the beginning of 2018, there have been 135 suspected fatal overdoses in Burlington County, which is on pace to surpass the 143 fatal overdoses that occurred last year. Narcan has been deployed 776 times during 2018, according to NJ Cares.

“Nationwide, motels and hotels have been susceptible to a higher risk of overdoses as the ongoing drug use epidemic rages on,” Coffina said. “This groundbreaking initiative represents another approach we are incorporating into our efforts to save as many lives as possible from this deadly scourge. We hope to enhance our relationship with these properties to enable us to work together and create an environment to keep their guests and employees safe.”

Police from Bordentown, Maple Shade and Mount Laurel, where many of the county’s hotels and motels are located, joined in the launch of the program. Hotel staff members were instructed on how to identify individuals who may be at risk for a potential overdose, and also how to recognize and keep themselves safe from exposure to Controlled Dangerous Substances while cleaning or maintaining guest rooms and common areas. They also received free Narcan kits, courtesy Virtua. There was a demonstration on how to properly use these kits.

“We are very grateful for Virtua’s enthusiastic support of our efforts to save lives in Burlington County, not only through Safe Overnight, but also through their support in providing naloxone to our municipal police departments,” Coffina said. “Our hope in distributing Narcan today is to encourage hotels, here and across the country, to have this life saving drug available, similar to how most public accommodations now have defibrillators on hand in case of heart attacks.”

The program is the county’s newest effort to combat the scourge of addiction. It also has a “Straight … to Treatment” program that operates in Evesham on Mondays from noon to 7 p.m., and Pemberton on Tuesdays from noon to 6 p.m.

That program that allows drug users to get connected to a program to assist them in overcoming their addiction through the local police department. As part of the program, participants can also safely turn in any drugs or drug paraphernalia in their possession and not be charged with a drug possession offense. Coffina has also pledged to aggressively prosecute drug dealers whose customers fatally overdose from the product they were sold.

The attached image from the Narcan demonstration was provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.