“The Truth About Heroin” town hall meeting, intended for people looking to understand the heroin epidemic that has reached Warren County, drew a standing room only crowd at Warren County Community College in April. The town hall meeting provided answers to many questions and introduced attendees to various available programs locally.

In addition members of Warren County police departments and EMS teams were honored for their use of NARCAN deployments over the past year, saving dozens of lives in the process. Without these kits, most of those who overdosed but were revived, likely would have died.

In the photo are the honorees along with the night’s speakers and other special guests. Back row: Family Guidance Center Associate Executive Director Bill Stover,  Sgt. Scott Johnson (Blairstown Police) Mayor Joe Kennedy (Belvidere), Chief Matt Scott (Belvidere),   Sgt. Christopher Jones, (Washington Township Police), Mayor Dave Higgins (Washington Boro), Doug Steinhardt CO-Chair Warren County Heroin Opioid Task Force, Chief Jason  Garcia (Lopatcong Police Department), Sgt. Glenn Brotzman (Hackettstown Police), Kristina Raymond, Freedom House, Liz Sartori, Director, Counseling and Addiction Center, Hackettstown Medical Center, Deborah  Meade, Warren County Department t of Human Services Substance Abuse and County Alliance Coordinator; and front row, Diane Bonelli, Supervisor Prevention Connections, Amanda Bridge, CARES, Mary Jo Harris, Coordinator Coalition for Heathy and Safe Communities, Debi Natale, Parent 2 Parent, Helen Carey, Parent 2 Parent, Mayor  Maria  DiGiovanni, (Hackettstown).

The event was sponsored by the Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities, Hackettstown Medical Center, Parent 2 Parent of Warren County, Teen Challenge, Cares of Warren County, and National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). The Coalition, through the efforts of the staff and volunteer members of the Coalition for Healthy and Safe Communities, work diligently with the assistance of community agencies, law enforcement and school personnel to address youth-related concerns, increase community awareness, provide drug and alcohol education and create a safer school and community environment for our youth. The Coalition is a program of the Family Guidance Center.