Gloucester Township Residents Speak Out on Drug Problem

It will take some time before true results come in, but the new program that offers counseling to lower level drug offenders who were not previously offered entry into a treatment program is going well, Gloucester Township Police Chief Harry Earle said Monday night.

He said this during a council meeting on the same night in which a couple offered a passionate plea for help concerning the drug problem in the area near an affordable housing community in the township.

The pair spoke about drug deals taking place in a complex close to their home while blasting Mayor David Mayer as a “do-nothing mayor” and warning council members about the expanding drug problem.

Mayer was not in attendance during Monday night’s meeting and didn’t return a phone message seeking comment on Tuesday.

They questioned the police department’s efforts in the area, with the man stating the area is dark and noise keeps nearby residents up all hours of the night.

“Perception is reality,” Gloucester Township Councilman Dan Hutchison said. “And this is this resident’s reality. I can only imagine how helpless he may feel. I just ask the chief to do whatever we can do. We have to help him.”

“Anyone who has to live through that, it’s a horror, I know,” Council President Glen Bianchini said. ”I know what it’s like to live with drugs. It was here when I was a kid and I wanted to stop it, but that’s not going to happen.“

He added that drugs will be around a long time, and Earle is forward thinking in his approach to dealing with the problem.

Following the meeting, Earle said he was aware of the problems in that area, but couldn’t discuss specifics because of the nature of any ongoing investigations.

“We’re aware of some of the issues that they spoke of and we responded quite strongly,” Earle said. “There is definitely a police presence in that development.”

He also said that in some instances, there’s only so much a police officer can do.

“You hear them speak of people being outside of their homes (late at night) and can’t the police do something, but people can be outside of their homes so there’s a fine balance that we need to be mindful of.”

He did note a recent drug bust and weapons seizure in which a Sicklerville man was charged with multiple drugs and weapons offenses that took place on Hampshire Road, about a mile from the location in question.

He also spoke of some of the township’s efforts to combat drug use.

In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie has approved the use of the heroin antidote Narcan statewide, and the Gloucester Township Police Department has about 100 kits. The department has made use of the antidote three times, Earle said.

There’s also a countywide heroin task force, and the township has made use of prescription drug drop boxes at the municipal complex.

The counseling program run by Genesis Counseling Centers has taken in about 11 people since its inception.

While the program calls for the judge to place the defendant in the program in an effort to help them recover, Earle said the presence of the advocate in the courtroom has done a lot to encourage everyone.

“People in the courtroom who aren’t defendants will approach the advocate for help,” Earle said. “Just that person’s availability in the courtroom has helped.”

He said the advocate serves as a resource for everyone.

He also said it may be a few years before true results can be seen. Statistics are being tracked by both the police department and Genesis.