Montco Judge Establishes Multi-Organization Alliance To Fight Opioid Epidemic

A Montgomeryville-based judge has recognized the need for an alliance to battle the epidemic of opioid addiction.

The Honorable Judge Andrea Duffy, who works on Montgomery County's Magisterial District Court 38-1-18, has launched the Drug Addiction Resource Alliance. The alliance aims to bring together a wide range of expert resources to help battle the epidemic.

A news release from the Lansdale Police Department identified 12 different governmental, private, and nonprofit organizations that will contribute to the alliance.

"This unique, local team approach of combining the resources of defense counsel, Adult Probation and Parole, many clinical providers as well as police and the DA’s office, allows those affected to see what is being done for those in crisis to get the help they need," Lansdale police said in a statement.

The organizations that are included are as follows:

D.A.V.E.

Rehab After Work/School

Hope's Therapeutic Services, LLC

Gaudenzia

Penn Foundation

Montgomery County District Attorney's Office

Aldersgate

Valley Forge Medical Center and Hospital

Fairmount Behavioral Health System

Horsham Clinic

Eagleville

Keystone Center

Opioid overdoses have become an increasingly worse problem in Montgomery County and around the nation over the past few years. In 2015, overdoses were up 138 percent from the year before, according to official estimates. As of late September, there had been 260 overdoses and 85 deaths. In 2015 altogether, there were 187 overdoses and 78 deaths in 12 months. That's a 1238 percent increase into 2016.

"There is no community that is immune to this tragedy," Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said, pointing to how the epidemic has spread across the nation. It's killing far too many people."

A resource forum to provide more information on the alliance will be held on November 17 at 7 p.m. at the Montgomery Township Municipal Complex, which is located on 1001 Stump Road in Montgomeryville.

Patch file photo.