Seven months ago the Freeholder Board, Camden County Police Chiefs Association, and health care providers came to the table with a plan to fund the life-saving tool, naloxone, for all police officers in the county. Since that time more than 480 naloxone reversals were deployed county-wide providing a critical antidote to the fatal effects of an opioid induced overdose.<\/p>\n
Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli lauded the health care systems for tearing down the obstacles to get access to this life-saving antidote and applauded the officers on the street administering it.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor police today, having naloxone on their belt or in their car is no different than carrying their radio, handcuffs, and firearm,\u201d Cappelli said. \u201cThis is another tool that they can use to save a life and I\u2019ve spoken to officers that have deployed it more than 25 different times to protect the sanctity of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
The opioid epidemic has created a national public health crisis throughout the nation. Naloxone is one of the critical tools that first responders and front line police officers are now carrying to combat that crisis. This medication is an opioid antagonist and can, in most instances, make someone overdosing start breathing again by dislodging the opioid from the receptors in the brain.<\/p>\n
The effects of opioids like heroin, fentanyl, and OxyContin have proven deadly in Camden County and throughout the nation. Currently, approximately 120 people nationwide die each day of an opioid overdose. Furthermore, out of the thousands of nonfatal overdoses that occurred in Camden County in 2017, more than 277 residents died of a fatal overdose.<\/p>\n
Cappelli called this partnership extremely successful and a model for other counties.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs this epidemic continues to evolve, individuals on the front lines of the crisis must have the ability to immediately act when they find someone in distress,\u201d Cappelli continued. \u201cMany times, that is our local law enforcement and every day they are fighting to provide another chance for someone to detox, get clean, and find treatment. Based on the first six months this new partnership has already paid extensive dividends to the residents of Camden County.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2018, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the county\u2019s four health care providers with the Camden County Prosecutor\u2019s Office to provide this pillar of harm reduction and lifesaving medication to our police officers. Hospital emergency departments have also been on the front lines of this battle administering naloxone on a regular basis as well working in tandem with law enforcement.<\/p>\n
Joseph W. Devine, President of Jefferson Health-New Jersey, spoke of the impact the partnership can have on the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur health care organization, which has been on the forefront of addressing the opioid crisis on several levels, has seen firsthand the incredible impact of providing the antidote Narcan to area law enforcement officials,\u201d Devine said. \u201cWe are honored to be part of this impactful and valuable county-wide program. The value of collaborative partnerships between health care organizations and law enforcement in battling this epidemic cannot be overstated \u2013 by working together we have, and will continue to, make a real and lasting impact in saving lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adrienne Kirby, PhD, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer at Cooper University Health Care, where the original announcement was held, said no one is immune to addiction.<\/p>\n
“We are happy to be part of this lifesaving program, but the statistics remind us of how devastating the opioid crisis has become, and how addiction affects all cross sections of our community — men and women of all ages, races, ethnic backgrounds, and socio-economic circumstances,\u201d said Kirby. \u201cWe are hopeful for the day when such a program is not needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
These figures provided herein only account for naloxone deployments by law enforcement personnel and do not take into consideration the actions of other first responders. Additionally, the total number also does not include deployments by private citizens or emergency department personnel.<\/p>\n
Dr. Jim Baird of Jefferson University Hospital-Washington Township said the county-wide program has proven highly successful in saving lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs an Emergency Department physician, I have seen firsthand the devastation of opioid addiction,\u201d Baird said. \u201cBy working together, health care organizations, law enforcement, elected officials,\u00a0and community advocates and organizations can, and are, helping save lives. The Camden County Narcan program has proven an important first\u00a0step in regional collaboration to combat the opioid epidemic we all face.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other participating health care providers talked about the impact of the program and law enforcement also weighed in on the initiative.<\/p>\n
Paul Sarnese, Assistant Vice President of Safety, Security and Emergency Management for Virtua Health System, talked about the collaboration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis project is an excellent example of the positive impact we can have on our communities when we partner to tackle a public health crisis,\u201d Sarnese said. \u201cVirtua is proud to be a part of this effort to save lives and give hope to those who are struggling with addiction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark Nessel, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Lourdes Health System, commented on the health care partners\u2019 commitment to the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opioid crisis knows no demographic or geographic boundary, so it is imperative that our community and hospital partners utilize a collaborative approach. At Lourdes Health System, we have been proud to partner with Camden County along with Burlington County, where we have held a longstanding Narcan donation agreement,” Nessel said.<\/p>\n
Chief Christopher Winters of the Pine Hill Police Department provided prospective from the law enforcement community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe partnership between law enforcement and all of the hospitals operating within Camden County is essential in combating this public health crisis,\u201d Winters said.\u00a0\u201cWhile law enforcement and first responders are many times on the front lines in dealing with opioid related overdoses, this partnership goes beyond the deployment of Narcan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Winters continued to talk about how the program is helping to facilitate a dialogue with health care providers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter saving the life of an individual suffering from an overdose, providing the opportunity for a second or even third chance, many times we as law enforcement are left asking, \u2018what is the next step?\u2019\u201d Winters continued. \u201cThe open lines of communication between law enforcement and medical professionals within Camden County and dedication to working together in addressing the \u2018next step\u2019 has allowed for greater access to the treatment necessary to truly save the life of an individual suffering from addiction.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"