After Two More Overdose Deaths, Cape May Prosecutor Calls Heroin Problem An 'Epidemic' In Region
By David Madden
CAPE MAY, N.J. (CBS) - Cape May County investigators are looking into a pair of apparent heroin overdoses in the last week that ended in death. It's part of an ongoing problem that's coming to the forefront of attention for law enforcement throughout the region.
"We're calling it an epidemic. It's statewide in New Jersey and I think it's in Pennsylvania as well, from everything we can tell."
Talk to Cape May Prosecutor Robert Taylor and he'll tell you at length about efforts to educate young and old alike about the dangers of prescription painkillers misused in the home, which often leads victims to turn to heroin as a cheaper and potentially lethal alternative.
"Last year there were 106 overdoses and 23 were fatalities," Taylor said. "This year, so far, we've had 56 overdoses and 3 fatalities."
New Jersey has started a pilot program in Ocean County to train EMT's in the use of Narcam, a drug that can, in many cases, prevent overdoses from ending in death. Taylor hopes the state will expand that program sooner rather than later.