NJ Community Staring Down Major Heroin Problem
New Jersey may be facing a heroin epidemic. Perhaps shining a much-needed spotlight on the larger drug abuse problem in New Jersey is one small community in Gloucester County that has been dealing with widespread heroin use for quite some time. In fact, the heroin abuse epidemic in Williamstown, NJ has gotten to the point that state agencies, including the New Jersey Department of Health, are getting involved and trying to figure out exactly why this tiny area of the Garden State has a heroin overdose rate almost 25 times higher than the overdose rate in the rest of the country.
Williamstown is an unincorporated community and census designated place located within Monroe Township. The community has a population of 15,567 people. Despite not even having 16,000 local residents, Williamstown NJ has been struck by 53 heroin-related deaths during the past decade. When other opiate-related overdoses are factored in, the numbers are even more staggering.
New Jersey’s Heroin Abuse Issues Go Beyond Williamstown
Outside of the small community of Williamstown, the heroin problem plagues much larger sections of New Jersey. According to state medical examiner records, there have been 5,267 heroin-related deaths in NJ since 2004. Moreover, the problem is getting worse, not better: nearly half of the total number of heroin OD deaths have come in the past five years, while the heroin death rate has doubled since 2010.
For additional information about the heroin epidemic facing New Jersey, check out the NJ.com article, “Inside the N.J. Town with a Heroin Death-Rate 25 Times the National Average.”
If you or a loved one has been charged with heroin distribution, marijuana possession or any other drug offense in New Jersey, you should speak to a qualified criminal defense attorney today. The experienced South Jersey criminal defense lawyers at the Law Offices of John W. Tumelty will help you fight your drug possession charges. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation about your case.
