New Jersey sheriff creates mobile drug intervention unit to address opioid crisis

The sheriff of Morris County, N.J., used drug forfeiture money to convert a van into a mobile drug intervention vehicle to connect the county's drug users with substance abuse treatment services, according to a CBS New York report.

Social workers, former addicts and plainclothes officers use the van to travel to known drug use hotspots to identify and persuade addicts to enter detox or rehab. In June, the county jail will open a 50-bed wing designated for inmates with substance abuse problems. Morris County Sheriff James Gannon said the new wing could one day become a licensed treatment facility, according to the report.

"We can no longer just house people [and] arrest them for use of opioids, we need to concentrate on the root cause of it and provide them services so that they can beat their addiction," said Mr. Gannon.

More articles on opioids: 
CDC launches online training modules for safer opioid prescription 
Many Americans believe marijuana is less risky than opioids, poll finds 
4 things to know about Prince's opioid use

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