Cops: 32 Heroin Overdoses in Seven Days in Camden

There have been 32 heroin overdoses in Camden, including three that proved fatal, over the past seven days, Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Camden County Police Chief J. Scott Thomson said Monday morning. Six of those overdoses occurred on Sunday.

Of the 32 overdoses, Camden County Police revived four of them using Narcan.

Police departments across the state began using Naloxone/Narcan, a heroin antidote previously only available to hospital staff, after legislators passed the Opioid Antidote and Overdose Prevention Act in 2013. The antidote reverses the effect of a heroin overdose.

The law provides immunity for for witnesses and victims of drug overdoses in order to promote timely medical treatment.

It also provides civil, criminal, and professional immunity for health care professionals involved in prescribing, dispensing, or administering naloxone or a similar treatment for an opioid overdose.

Police issued a safety alert regarding the danger to drug users purchasing narcotics, according to the police department’s Facebook page.

Law enforcement agencies are investigating the origin of the epidemic, and are asking for assistance from the public.

Anyone with any information regarding the manufacture, distribution or use of drugs is encouraged to immediately contact the Camden County Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 856-757-7042.