Long Valley Family Continues To Honor Son Lost To Addiction

LONG VALLEY, NJ - Nine months later, Mark and Maria Broadhurst feel the pain of losing their son Joshua, 24, to an accidental overdose as keenly is if it was nine seconds ago. But the Long Valley family continues to honor him by raising awareness, and money, to help others.

The family founded the charity Joshua’s Peace in memory of their late son and made a donation of $3,500 on to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Hope One mobile outreach program, the Washington Township Police Department, and other first responder organizations.

This particular gift is well-times as Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Monday during a COVID-19 briefing that May saw the highest number of suspected overdose deaths in any month in the last three years.

"Overall the state has seen a 12 percent increase in suspected drug related deaths from January to July 2020 when compared to the same period last year," she said. "Initiatives to get narcan, naloxone, into the hands of more residents are vital for battling the epidemic right now."

Mark and Maria Broadhurst presented Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon and his Hope One team with a $1,000 donation during a Hope One stop outside the Long Valley Pharmacy in Washington Township. Hope One specifically works community outreach to assist in addiction support. The Broadhursts also presented Washington Township Police Chief Jeffrey Almer and Township Mayor Matt Murillo with a $1,000 donation from Joshua’s Peace.

Additional donations of $500 each are being given to the Washington Township P.B.A., the Long Valley First Aid Squad, and Washington Township Fire Departments.

By creating Joshua’s Peace, the Broadhursts pledged to invest in programs and organizations that educate others about substance abuse, assist in rehabilitation, and work to eradicate stigmas that can be associated with asking for help.

“I think it’s very heartwarming that a family that has gone through such a tragedy is able to look forward and see there’s a huge problem out here. They dug down and are looking to help other people. I’m in awe of the family. Joshua’s memory will always be attached to the Hope One truck as it goes around the county, the state and the nation. Joshua’s memory will always be in our hearts,” Gannon said.

“We appreciate all that you, the Sheriff, and Hope One is doing," Mark Broadhurst said. "We are in awe because not only are you saving lives, you’re spreading a message that is so important to us. You approach the issue from a point of compassion and provide hope."

The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Hope One mobile outreach program was launched on April 3, 2017, to bring free Narcan training and critical mental health and addiction resources and treatment options to people living in communities across the county.

The Hope One team has made 14,468 contacts, assisted 189 people into rehab and recovery programs and another 154 people with mental health services. The team has trained 2,790 people in how to administer Narcan to reverse an opioid-induced overdose.

The Broadhursts in July also donated $560 to the Long Valley Food Pantry, or $10 for every resident that completed Narcan training offered by the Hope One team.

Broadhurst previously told Patch that even before the death of his son on Dec. 6, his family decided that they wanted to do something to help other families. It was something, Broadhurst said, his son wanted too.

"It is so confusing, there are many emotions involved, and it is really a misunderstood subject, something that is off limits in the normal course of conversation," Broadhurst said. "There is a lot of judgement involved, which we learned the hard way, is wrong. When my son first began his struggles we were among those who kept it quiet, and before it began, I know I certainly judged other parents when I heard about someone who was using."

The Broadhursts started Joshua’s Peace to honor their son, “shed a loving light on the disease of addiction,” and spread the face that addiction doesn’t discriminate. Their son was very close to his parents and siblings and heavily interested in nutrition, body-building and the beach. He was sober for four years before he relapsed and accidentally overdosed on heroin that was laced with fentanyl.

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