‘It’s a real problem’

Communities across South Jersey held vigils last month that coincided with International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 29 to let those suffering know “you are not in it alone.”

In Gloucester County, vigils were held in Monroe and Washington townships. The former’s Healing in Unity Memorial Vigil was held on Aug. 26 at Owens Park.

“It’s unfortunate we have to be here,” Monroe Township Mayor Greg Wolfe said. “I wish none of us was here actually. I wish none of us had to experience the lost of a loved one … the pain. Maybe you are here tonight because you are suffering as well as recovering.”

According to the mayor, the township formed an opioid task force this year committed to public awareness and education and rehabilitation to support not only addicts, but families as well.

“We are committed to you and our community,” he promised, noting as a retired Monroe Township Police officer, who spent time in the detective bureau narcotics unit, he thought “enforcement was the way to combat it.”

“Now I look at it differently,” he acknowledged, “and although our police department does a fantastic job with enforcing laws of the state of New Jersey, the problem still exists.”

The task force in Monroe Township will be made up of government officials, school district officials, members of the administration, Police Chief Ryan Borkowski and some of his officers and members of the community.

Wolfe became emotional at the vigil when he shared how he lost his wife’s brothers, Anthony and Andrew Ricciardi. Andrew, who died in May, was set to help in the township’s opioid task force.

“I feel the biggest part of the problem is no one actually wants to admit we have a problem,” the mayor said. “We are afraid that we are going to look bad. Dirty something – like that …It’s a problem within our community, and the sooner that everybody realizes that … the sooner we will fix that problem.”

Wolfe was joined by former state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Gloucester County Commissioner Frank DiMarco. Richard LaRusso delivered a message of healing and Michele Schreffier-Perez spoke of unity.

“Every one of us has been touched by this,” Sweeney noted. “I’ve lost family members that I’ve loved … It’s a disease, and, unfortunately we haven’t done what is right for a long time.”

Gloucester County commissioners held their ninth annual vigil on Aug. 27 at James G. Atkinson Park in Sewell. In Burlington County, officials joined with local advocates, residents, providers and families for their seventh vigil, on Aug. 29 at the county amphitheater in Westampton.

“Substance use disorder has stolen the lives of hundreds of Burlington County residents of all ages, races and backgrounds,” said county Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson said. “We gather to remember these victims and to show support to their loved ones and to those who are waging their own battles against this terrible disease.

The Burlington County Hope One Mobile Outreach Unit and Hope One for Youth are part of the county’s comprehensive response to the opioid crisis. Among the actions the county has taken are:

• Creating a Stigma-free Burlington County campaign to dispel misconceptions and increase awareness about substance use disorder and mental illnesses and the services available to individuals and families.
• Launching the Burlington County Peer Recovery Center inside Burlington City’s municipal building to provide a community-based location where individuals in recovery can receive peer support and information about treatment programs, support services and community resources.
• Partnering with the Burlington County Traumatic Loss Coalition and YMCA of the Pines in Medford to create Camp Cardinal, a free day-camp program for children impacted by substance use disorder. The camp launched in 2023 and was expanded this year.
• Distributing overdose emergency kits to schools, libraries and other public spaces in Burlington County. The wall-mounted kits contain the overdose reversal drug Naloxone, commonly called Narcan.