Public Hearing on NJ Youth Heroin and Drug Abuse to be Held in Manalapan

The Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Task Force on Heroin and Other Opiate Use by New Jersey’s Youth and Young Adults are holding their third public hearing at the in Manalapan at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29. 

Dr. Lisa Marsch and Dr. Louis Baxter, leading authorities on adolescent and young adult opiate addiction and medication-assisted addiction treatment, will both be speaking to the Task Force.

Testimony will also be heard from Randy Grimes, a former lineman from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Grimes will be discussing sports injuries and his previous battle with prescription painkiller addiction.

Family members of young people currently in recovery from heroin and prescription painkiller addiction will also provide testimony to the Task Force.

Last year, 7,338 Monmouth County residents were admitted into New Jersey alcohol and drug treatment facilities - which is the highest number among state counties. Out of those admitted to treatment facilities in 2011, 41 percent were for heroin or other opiates, including oxycodone, morphine, and codeine.

“Many Monmouth County families are impacted each day by heroin and other opiate drugs,”  director of the county’s Office of Addiction Services, Barry W. Johnson, said. “We encourage Monmouth County residents to testify at the public hearing about their experiences with these powerful and dangerous drugs.” 

Monmouth County Library Headquarters is located at 125 Symmes Rd. in Manalapan.