15 Arrested During County Heroin Sweep Get Treatment

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Fifteen people arrested during the second phase of Operation Helping Hand opted to receive treatment despite the fact that they are facing criminal charges, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said Monday.

The sweep, which was held last week, targeted heroin and opioid use in the county. County Executive James Tedesco and Sheriff Michael Saudino collaborated with 16 law enforcement agencies, recovery and addiction specialists and personnel from Bergen Regional Medical Center.

Forty-three people were arrested and brought to the prosecutor's office for processing. After they were issued summonses, mostly for heroin possession, they were offered an opportunity to speak with a recovery specialist — a recovering addict who has been clean and is treated to help people find treatment.

Fifteen people accepted the offer. They are now in five-day detox programs.

The offer of help was in addition to, not in lieu of, any criminal charges filed against the individuals, Grewal said.

A trained clinician from the Bergen County Division of Addiction Services assessed the individual's situation to determine the appropriate level of care and treatment needed, the prosecutor said.

Recovery specialists remain in touch with many of the remaining 28 people arrested and are prepared to offer them help when they want it, Grewal said.

“In fighting the heroin and opioid epidemic in Bergen County, our typical law enforcement response has not been working,” stated Grewal. “This epidemic, instead, requires a collaborative response — one that brings together law enforcement, county government, health care professionals, counselors and recovery specialists — under one roof."

Operating Helping Hand 2 was brought out by an increase in drug overdoses in Bergen County from 2015 to 2016. Of the 308 reported overdoses, 246 were heroin-opioid related, Gerwal said.

Eighty-seven people died from drug overdoses during that time; 70 of them were heroin and opioid-related.

Narcan, an over-the-counter medication designed to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose, was used 207 times resulting in 180 lives saved.

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