Hillsborough Funeral Director Is Tired Of Burying Drug Victims

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A Hillsborough resident and Director of the Hillsborough Funeral Home called on the Board of Education to start doing more to stop the drug epidemic in the school system.

"Two weeks ago, unfortunately, a 2014 Hillsborough graduate died of an overdose," Mike Reilly said at the Oct. 30 meeting. "I have permission from the family to say they believe while she was in high school, she was doing heroin."

"The poor girl is buried and forgotten, but I don’t want her to be forgotten," Reilly said. "We need to do more."

Reilly had previously addressed the board about taking action against drugs and referenced his comments.

"I offered free drug tests to anyone that wanted it," Reilly said. "I asked that parents please get their heads out of the sand. I said, 'I don’t want the business anymore.' "

Reilly asked the board to start implementing drug testing in the school because he feels it would serve as a deterrent to students. He also suggested the school bring in speakers to share true drug-related stories with students.

The board had suggested possibly getting Narcan for the school, but Reilly was not happy with that.

"How about we start before we need Narcan?" Reilly said.

Reilly also pointed to the school's budget which has allotted funding for drug testing, yet he says none have been done.

"Is anybody concerned but me who keeps burying these people on Route 206?" Reilly said.

Several board members responded to Reilly's comments agreeing with him that more needs to be done. Jordan Schiff also asked to speak with Reilly more to come up with a solution.

See Reilly's entire speech to the board below:

(Image and video via Hillsborough Education Association)

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