Crime & Safety
Overdose-Reversal Drug Use Rises To 202 Times In Union County
This is an increase of 21 times police administered naloxone in the past 2 weeks in Union County from the last report on Aug. 24.
UNION COUNTY, NJ — The police-administered naloxone has now been used more than 200 times this year, Union County Prosecutor's Office reported as part of its #confrontingacrisis campaign.
As of Sept. 7, the lifesaving overdose-reversal drug has been used a total of 202 times in 2018, passing the 2017 total of 180 and 2016 with 161, according to the UCPO.
This is an increase of 21 in the past two weeks in the county from the last report on Aug. 24 of 181 times administered.
Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Of the 202, a total of 47 people have died from an overdose in Union County.
Most recently, three people found at the same address in Kenilworth were revived using naloxone on the same day. (See Related: 3 Overdose Victims Revived In Kenilworth Thursday)
Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The highest number of naloxone deployment remains in Union Township with 48, followed by Linden, Rahway, Elizabeth and Cranford.
Here is a breakdown of the police-administered naloxone in Union County from Aug. 24 to Sept. 7:
| Town | Aug. 24 | Sept. 7 |
| Union | 43 | 48 |
| Linden | 35 | 41 |
| Rahway | 18 | 20 |
| Elizabeth | 17 | 17 |
| Cranford | 11 | 11 |
| Plainfield | 9 | 9 |
| Clark | 7 | 8 |
| Roselle Park | 8 | 8 |
| Hillside | 6 | 7 |
| Summit | 5 | 7 |
| Kenilworth | 5 | 7 |
| Roselle | 4 | 4 |
| Springfield | 3 | 3 |
| Winfield | 3 | 3 |
| Garwood | 2 | 3 |
| Westfield | 2 | 2 |
| Berkeley Heights | 1 | 2 |
| Scotch Plains | 1 | 1 |
| New Providence | 1 | 1 |
| Fanwood | 0 | 0 |
| Mountainside | 0 | 0 |
The UCPO releases the numbers periodically in an effort to "#confrontingacrisis."
Our updated police-administered naloxone deployment map. There have now been more than 200 since the start of the year. #confrontingacrisis pic.twitter.com/gbwXJmZSr3
— UCPONJ (@UCPONJ) September 7, 2018
(Image via Union County Prosecutor's Office)
Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.
Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
