This Many Die Of Drugs In Your NJ Area, And It's Worse Than Ever

Drugs deaths are worse than ever in New Jersey in 2018. And the numbers show spell out how – and why –the state is on track for what likely will be its deadliest year ever just as a number of communities have taken bigger steps to combat the problem.

Already, at least 1,723 people died in New Jersey this year, putting the state on track to easily surpass 3,000 drug deaths for the first time. Last year, 2,620 died in all of 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Office of Attorney General has released statistics for mid-year 2018, showing dramatic increases in some areas of the state from this point last year. Here they are:

• Cumberland County's drug deaths nearly doubled, from 31 to 63, from January through June, compared to the same period last year..
• Monmouth County also had a sizable increase, from 82 to 110.
• The big drivers in these increasing statistics are likely heroin and fentanyl. Heroin deaths increased from 514 in 2012 to 1,347 in 2016. Fentanyl deaths increased from 42 in 2012 to 818 in 2016.
• Perhaps one of the most stunning increases in deaths has involved fentanyl in Ocean County, where 123 users died in 2016 compared to 9 in 2012.
• In 2018, however, areas of the state had some declines or stayed the same, such as Ocean County, where officials applauded their efforts to stabilize the heroin epidemic.

Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutors Office noted that Narcan usage to prevent overdoses are also down in Ocean County, where the heroin epidemic has spiraled out of control in recent years.

"Were praying this is because of a ton of initiatives we've put in place," said Della Fave, noting that eight different "stations" across the county serve as places where people can go in and get help, no questions asked.

"Things are supposed to be working," he said.

Della Fave was referring to project Blue HART, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office's drug recovery assistance program. The stations are located Ocean County towns including Little Egg Harbor, Brick, Lacey, Manchester, Ocean Gate, Point Pleasant Boro and Stafford Township.

The "Blue HART" program, which began on Jan. 9, 2017 under the name HARP (Heroin Addiction Response Program), was the first of its kind in New Jersey.

In Cumberland County, meanwhile, spokeswoman Kim Wood said the community has made a "significant effort" to address the issue "rather than ignoring the problem."

Wood said community leaders are working together to offer services that take positive steps toward recovery. Those include: providing free Narcan training and assessment and outpatient services; offering direct substance-use disorder services to the communities; and holding a candlelight vigil and "Recovery celebration Walk and Festival" in September.

Here are the numbers of deaths comparing 2017 to 2018 through June:

Here is a chart that also shows the comparison:

Photo: Shutterstock – A man who is a drug addict is sitting with a syringe using drugs lying on the floor.