New Jersey Heroin Attorney » New Jersey

New Jersey Has Lost the War on Drugs

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 01:15:28 +0000

New Jersey’s residents have been noticing an unfortunate growing trend of heroin and opiate abuse over the last several years with no sign of stopping any time soon. In fact, last year there were an estimated 740 deaths In New Jersey which resulted from heroin and opiate.Recently, Governor Chris Christie acknowledged the problem and took time to speak about New Jersey’s growing heroin and opioid crisis. The Governor’s position is that our state, in both the private and public sector’s, needs to embrace a dramatically different approach to substance abuse.

In an interview with NJ Advance Media, the Governor didn’t beat around the bush – he flat out said that the War on Drugs has failed. Christie also said that it is time to start focusing on a system that values treatment over incarceration. The Governor based his position on the body’s chemistry and how some people are predisposed to addiction. Based on this logic, the government needs to start treating it is as disease.

One of the biggest problems is that under our current law, some repeat drug offenders are subject to mandatory incarceration even for these non-violent crimes because of laws like the Brimage Guidelines. However, the Governor pointed out that laws requiring mandatory treatment would yield a much greater result for society in general and for those individuals battling addiction in particular.

The Governor went on to say that New Jersey just is not prepared to handle the current addiction crisis affecting its residents. He pointed out there just aren’t enough beds available in residential treatment facilities for adults battling substance abuse. And for the people who are lucky enough to find a bed, odds are their insurance carrier won’t pay for the treatment. According to federal data, treatment centers in the Garden State have been operating near or slightly above capacity for several years. While the number of available treatment slots has increased over the last decade, so has demand, one that is increasingly being driven by heroin and prescription opioids.

Obviously, there is no immediate solution or easy fix to the growing heroin problem in New Jersey, but the first step is acknowledging that the current approach is not working. Moving forward, New Jersey’s battle with the heroin epidemic will be on a day by day basis.

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Edison Mayor’s Son Arrested for Heroin

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 00:22:10 +0000

Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey is among the latest of local and national politicians dealing with a child battling a drug problem. Heroin addiction is real and it is prevalent in New Jersey. Despite popular belief, heroin is no longer a drug that is regimented to the inner city areas. In fact, heroin is abundant in the suburbs and is affecting middle class and affluent families. This latest incident may help shed light on the heroin and drug problems affecting Middlesex County and New Jersey.

Kyle Lankey, the son of the mayor, was arrested this past Monday night after police officers responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle idling in front of a house. Policed arrived and found him unconscious behind the wheel of his car on the house’s front lawn. An investigation and subsequent search of the vehicle turned up heroin, pills, and a small amount of marijuana in his possession, according to reports.

Among the most serious of charges, was one count of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute based on the fact that police allegedly found 200 packets of heroin and about $400 in cash. He was arrested and taken into custody and later released on $25,000 bail. The bail was set by the Dennis Fackelman, the Piscataway Municipal Court Judge to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest because the defendant’s father is Mayor of Edison and is therefore responsible for appointing judges in Edison Municipal Court. The amount of heroin allegedly seized, is most likely indicative of a third degree indictable crime which is punishable by 3 – 5 years in state prison. Moreover, these charges will most likely be handled in the Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick.

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3 Deadly Brands of Heroin on NJ Streets

admin — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 04:07:57 +0000

New Jersey state law enforcement, in conjunction with Pennsylvania and New York, have identified three highly lethal brands of heroin that are currently on our streets that have been responsible for at least six overdose deaths recently. According to New Jersey State Police, the three deadly brands are “Power Hour,” “Taliban,” and “Strike Dead,” and they have been found to contain a highly potent and dangerous mix of drugs not typically seen in our state. Authorities said the warning was issued in hopes of reaching drug users who are potentially in possession of the drug brands and may not know of their contents or potency.

Moreover, Narcan, also known as the overdose antidote, which has already saved hundreds of heroin overdose victims since law enforcement starting using it in April of 2014, appears to be ineffective in treating some of these drug brands. Therefore, authorities fear that they may not be able to save these overdose victims and that heroin users may be unaware they are purchasing a potentially lethal mix of drugs. State officials have estimated that heroin overdoses have already been responsible for the death of more than 5,000 people since 2004.

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Are You Addicted to Heroin?

admin — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 21:37:32 +0000

Heroin addiction can be an overwhelming and powerless feeling. If untreated, heroin addiction can often to lead to a life of crime and eventually even death. For your convenience, below, we have complied a listed some common symptoms of opiate and heroin addiction

Has your use of opiates increased over time?
Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop using?
Do you use more than you would like, or more than is prescribed?
Have you experienced negative consequences to your using?
Have you put off doing things because of your drug use?
Do you find yourself thinking obsessively about getting or using your drug?
Have you made unsuccessful attempts at cutting down your drug use?

If you answered yes to at least three of those questions, then you should contact a licensed physician or license treatment facility because you may be exhibiting signs of opiate addiction.

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Top 25 Heroin Towns in New Jersey

admin — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 22:19:57 +0000

Heroin use has been on a steady rise throughout New Jersey with a combination of urban city areas and suburbs playing host to the growing epidemic. Some of the biggest counties affected include Ocean County, Monmouth County and Middlesex County with no end in sight. In fact, the number of overdoses in Ocean County doubled from 2012 to 2013. For purposes of this article, we have provided the statistics supplied by the Division of Addiction Services in the New Jersey Department of Human Services that show the top 25 New Jersey communities with the highest number of reported heroin overdoses and abuse cases in 2013. To view the original article, please visit the Toms River Patch.

1. Newark (1,290 heroin abuse cases reported)

2. Jersey City (1,121 heroin abuse cases reported)

3. Paterson (786 heroin abuse cases reported)

4. Camden (556 heroin abuse cases reported)

5. Atlantic City (504 heroin abuse cases reported)

6. Elizabeth (453 heroin abuse cases reported)

7. Toms River (416 heroin abuse cases reported)

8. Brick (407 heroin abuse cases reported)

9. Trenton (316 heroin abuse cases reported)

10. Vineland (287 heroin abuse cases reported)

11. Egg Harbor (251 heroin abuse cases reported)

12. Plainfield (232 heroin abuse cases reported)

13. Lacey (222 heroin abuse cases reported)

14. Jackson (207 heroin abuse cases reported)

15. Middletown (205 heroin abuse cases reported)

16. Millville (184 heroin abuse cases reported)

17. Old Bridge (178 heroin abuse cases reported)

18. East Orange (177 heroin abuse cases reported)

19. Asbury Park (165 heroin abuse cases reported)

20. Howell (153 heroin abuse cases reported)

21. Lower Township(151 heroin abuse cases reported)

22. New Brunswick (151 heroin abuse cases reported)

23. Keansburg (147 heroin abuse cases reported)

24. Edison (146 heroin abuse cases reported)

25. Woodbridge (146 heroin abuse cases reported)

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