1 Narcan Save In Florham Park In 2015, 37 Overdose Deaths Countywide

In the first full year of having officers in Morris County trained on how to administer Narcan (Naloxone) to combat opiate drug overdoses, 42 lives were saved, Prosecutor Fredric Knapp announced.

In the summer of 2014 the prosecutor’s office formally launched a Nasal Narcan program in the county. There are currently 27 police departments in the county equipping their police officers with Narcan.

“Unfortunately, police officers in Morris County are encountering significant numbers of overdoses from opiates in the form of heroin, morphine, methadone, codeine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone,” Knapp said in a statement. “This epidemic is being experienced throughout the state of New Jersey.”

While 42 successful saves occurred countywide in 2015, 37 lives were lost due to opiate drug overdoses, Knapp said.

Narcan was issued 48 times in the county in 2015.

The breakdown by police department and date includes:

• Boonton: 1 save, Oct. 19
• Boonton Twp.: 2 saves, July 6 and July 16
• Butler: 1 save, July 28
• Denville: 1 save, Oct. 2
• Florham Park: 1 save, Sept. 2
• Hanover Twp.: 1 save, June 28
• Jefferson Twp.: 1 save, July 30
• Lincoln Park: 2 saves, March 19 and May 12
• Madison: 1 save, Oct. 21
• Montville Twp.: 4 saves, April 21; June 26; Aug. 3; Aug. 29
• Morris Twp.: 1 save, June 3
• Morristown: 3 saves, June 11; Sept. 2; Nov. 25
• Netcong: 1 save, Oct. 31
• Pequannock: 2 saves, April 10 and Nov. 17
• Randolph: 4 saves, Jan. 1; May 24; Sept. 3; Dec. 7
• Rockaway Twp.: 6 saves, June 2; Aug. 22 (2 saves); Aug. 28; Sept. 1; Sept. 13
• Washington Twp.: 2 saves, Sept. 9 and Oct. 25
• Wharton: 8 saves, Feb. 2; Feb. 28; May 10; May 20; May 23; June 24; Aug. 10; Dec. 5

“The State of New Jersey is plagued by addictive heroin and other opiates,” Knapp said. “Morris County is not immune from this epidemic. Law Enforcement is taking a dynamic approach when dealing with these addictive poisons. Equipping our first responding police officers with Narcan is a critical and compassionate approach to the opiate epidemic. In 2015 there were 42 instances in which police officers valiantly gave someone suffering from an opiate addiction a second chance to seek treatment. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office will continue to work together with local law enforcement and the community to fight against this opiate epidemic. We greatly appreciate the support of Atlantic Health System in this continuing battle.”