Monmouth County Acting Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni announces that hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties will replenish the overdose antidote Narcan at no cost to law enforcement agencies. REBECCA CHENG/STAFF Hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties are joining forces with their respective county prosecutors to combat the heroin and opiate overdose epidemic that is plaguing the area.
Nine hospitals affiliated with Barnabas Health Medical Group, CentraState Healthcare System and Meridian Health in Monmouth and Ocean counties began replenishing overdose antidote Narcan (naloxone) kits to law enforcement officers on July 1.
“We are giving a second chance to people to get the immediate help they need and the opportunity to heal and recover with addiction specialists. This is only possible if we all work together,” Meridian Health President Tim Hogan said.
Monmouth County Acting Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni made the announcement with Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato and representatives from each of the three healthcare companies in a joint press conference held July 1 at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office in Freehold Township.
“We were able to strike an agreement that helps law enforcement save the lives of overdose victims without having police departments bear the cost of naloxone,” Gramiccioni said.
According to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, many cases in the resuscitation process require two doses of naloxone. This partnership agreement will allow officers to exchange empty naloxone syringes to alleviate financial constraints and supply demands.
Gramiccioni said Narcan can cost between $20 and $50 per dose after manufacturers’ rates are included. The price of the antidote continues to increase with increased demand, he said.
Healthcare systems are able to obtain the drug at a reduced price and provide free services for the community, CentraState Healthcare System Senior Vice President Thomas Scott said.
“Because of the price increase for the drug in response to supply and demand, for the hospitals to step up and basically provide funding shows the collaboration and cooperation of law enforcement and the public healthcare system; (law enforcement) is not trying to arrest their way out of the problem,” said Donna DeStefano, a parent whose daughter battled and recovered from heroin addiction.
According to Coronato, the plan to combat the epidemic will be broken into three phases — the hospital phase, the detoxification phase and the treatment phase.
“Each one of these phases is important. It is a heavy lift, but it is a plan and I think these phases are necessary to take (the initiative) to the next step,” he said.
During the press conference, Connie Greene, vice president of Barnabas Health, announced that on June 30 the state Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services issued a two-year grant in the amount of $225,000 to be awarded to five counties — Monmouth, Ocean, Essex, Atlantic and Camden.
The grant will provide funding to hire interventionists who will be available 24 hours a day to navigate overdose victims to further treatment.
“This is a tough population that is resistant to treatment, so we need these highly skilled people,” Greene said.
Participating hospitals in the Mon- mouth-Ocean Narcan replacement initiative are Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel; Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank; Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch; CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township; Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune; Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, Lakewood; Ocean Medical Center, Brick Township; Community Medical Center, Toms River; and Southern Ocean Medical Center, Manahawkin.