The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:
Dear Editor,
New Jerseyans are dying due to drug overdoes from tainted heroin cut with higher potency opitates including fentanyl, fentanyl research analogs, and other synthetic opiates like carfentanil. The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office recently announced a seizure of fake oxycodone pills, that despite looking real actually contained such dangerous imitations. These high potency synthetic opiates are very easy to overdose on, because they can be over 100 times stronger than pure heroin, and are mixed by idiots who are neither trained chemists nor pharmacists.
While even untainted heroin and opiate based painkillers like Oxycontin can kill on their own, the chances of an overdose death with fake drugs is through the roof.
In the long term, prescription based access to heroin for addicts, would help to reduce harm and put cartels out of business. But there is an immediate way to begin to save lives: I propose offering the option for New Jerseyans to be able to confidentially, and without risk of prosecution, be able to have their heroin, and other drugs tested for the presence of killer fentanyl and carfentanil, free of charge.
Such a testing program would save lives by stopping tainted drugs from being consumed, and help law enforcement, first aid squads, and emergency room doctors better understand how to respond to overdoses in their area by providing data on what exact opiate chemical cocktails are being sold.
Some of the places where this free testing should be offered include Toms River, Middletown, Red Bank, Asbury Park and any municipality with a population over 50,000. I call on the Ocean and Monmouth County Prosecutor's Offices to join me in lobbying our new Governor-elect Phil Murphy to support a fentanyl testing program to address the crisis.
REV. DR. ERIC HAFNER
TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY
FORMER CANDIDATE FOR U.S. CONGRESS
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