Manchester School Board Lauds Police-Run Opiate Awareness Program

MANCHESTER, NJ — Stopping the opioid crisis starts with convincing people to stay away from them to start with — especially the youth.

In Manchester, the police department's #NotEvenOnce opiate awareness program aims to do just that. The program has been so well received that the department is sharing it with other towns in the state.

It also has been praised by local school district officials, where the program was piloted to bring the message home to the township's teenagers, that even one time using heroin can lead to a dark path.

The Manchester Township Board of Education recently honored Manchester Township Police Chief Lisa Parker and her team for creating and implementing the #NotEvenOnce program for high school students.

"We have always had a special relationship with the Manchester Police Department. They are always quick to respond and, more than that, always looking to be proactive," Manchester Superintendent David Trethaway said. The program created by Parker and the police department is now part of the health curriculum for seniors at Manchester Township High School. "I can’t say enough about what she has done for our kids and for our community."

The program, which consists of three 90-minute classes, meets all learning standards with a curriculum developed in partnership with school district. The first session is informational with time for the officers to develop a rapport with the students, the second session features a video of a jailhouse interview with an opiate offender, and the third session brings in a recovery coach who speaks about her own personal experience, Parker said. The program is now in more than a dozen school districts statewide, she said.

Parker said the program is a success because of the hard work of Manchester's police officers involved in it, including Detective Adam Emmons, School Resource Officer Chris Cerullo, and Patrolmen Keith Craig, and Joe Fastige.

"These officers put endless hours into the program and they truly deserve recognition," she said.

Learn more about the #NotEvenOnce program at manchesterpolicenj.com/not-even-once.

Manchester Board of Education President Donald Webster Jr., Detective Adam Emmons, School Resource Officer Chris Cerullo, Chief Lisa Parker, Patrolman Keith Craig, Patrolman Joe Fastige, Schools Superintendent David Trethaway. Photo by Lee Bruzaitis, Manchester Township Schools public information officer