3 Bergen Towns Create Partnership To Fight Drug 'Epidemic'

Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, and Oakland officials announced a joint partnership Thursday that will try and reduce illegal and illicit drug use in those municipalities.

The joint endeavor, which was spearheaded by Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney, is a collaboration between municipal officials, school superintendents, police departments, and drug abuse prevention alliances.

The multi-faceted program is aiming to try and tackle drug abuse, especially heroin use, help users and their families, and educate residents.

“Our children never would have imagined their lives would have turned out this way,” Rooney said at a press conference Thursday. “Their once very happen and full lives are now torn and tattered. They’re our neighbors’ sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters.”

Police will offer amnesty to drug users and their families who call authorities for help. People who have drugs or find drugs at their homes can call police without the fear of being charged — something that often prevents people from calling authorities for help.

“We’re here to help people first of all and not necessarily put them in jail,” said Franklin Lakes Police Chief Carmine Pezzuti. “Putting them in jail isn’t necessarily going to give them the help they need.”

Funds from each municipality and the Ramapo-Indian Hills will be pooled together and grant opportunities will be jointly explored.

Officials will petition state legislators to pass laws that would require attendees in drug treatment facilities to meet with professional substance abuse counselors before being released.

A steering committee composed of elected officials, police chiefs, and municipal alliance leaders will help track statistics, including the number of overdoses and lives saved using Narcan, and lead the initiative.

Oakland Mayor Linda Schwager said that Narcan works, but more needs to be done.

“We help them, but then what?” Schwager asked. “More needs to be done.”

An independent professional will be hired to provide confidential support to help individuals and families.

“We are committed to fight this epidemic because this is not just one individual, one family, one town, but our entire community at large,” Rooney said. “It would be easy to ignore this and make believe it doesn’t exist, but it does, and we are determined to work together to address it and win the battle.”

(PIctured: Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney announces the creation of a joint effort between Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, and Oakland officials to combat drug use at a press conference Thursday/Staff photo by Daniel Hubbard)