Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson said drug addiction has no social or economic boundaries.
SOMERVILLE -- Jeff, who didn't want to give his last name, had elbow surgery four-and-a-half years ago following a gun-related accident and was prescribed oxycontin for his pain.
Less than two months later, he had a heroin habit that had reached 20 bags a day and he lost his job. His prescription had run out and he sought heroin to experience the high he enjoyed oxycontin.
"Most of the people I know got started on heroin because they were in pain," said Jeff on Friday at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. "People come to the emergency room and just get pills. After my surgery, I started taking more pills than I should and ended up a heroin addict."
Jeff, who remains in treatment, was at RWJUH-Somerset for the unveiling of Somerset County's START (Steps to Action Recovery and Treatment) program for those arrested with drug and alcohol addiction issues.
The program is modeled after the one started in Hunterdon County three years ago and has expanded across New Jersey. Somerset County has partnered with Hunterdon County.
START was created in collaboration with the Hunterdon County-based Safe Communities Coalition to provide referral information to those suffering from addiction or other crisis.
Last year, Narcan was administered to 77 people brought by ambulance to RWJUH Somerset's emergency department in 2015. This year, there have been 114 cases through September, he said.
Narcan is an opiate antidote used to treat narcotic overdoses in emergency situations.
"The heroin problem is getting worse because of the medicine we're administering," said Milano. "We need to be thinking about non-narcotic solutions. We are so excited to be part of this partnership."
Addiction program is model for N.J.
Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, who grew up in Bridgewater and now lives in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards, is spearheading the county's fight on opioid addiction.
"We're not going to arrest our way out of this problem," said Robertson. "Drug addiction has no social or economic boundaries. It doesn't discriminate. Arresting over and over again those individual suffering from drug addiction isn't going to solve the problem.
"We need to educate people. The problem is getting worse," Robertson said. "Young people are dying. Solving this problem is my number one priority."
Jeff, who has been arrested several times on drug related offenses, said there needs to be more programs in the jails to help addicts.
"People are just sitting in the jails," he said. "There my be one program a couple of days out of the week."
Under START, packets of referral information will be given to people by police, first-responders, and in the hospital emergency room.
"We want this program to open a door," said Brenda M. Esler of the Somerset County Safe Communities Coalition. "We want this to be an opportunity for people to change. We want people to know that your life is valuable. Help is available."
The START Initiative is endorsed by the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police.
"In my seven months on the job, I've made it a point to reach out to the county and its communities," said Robertson. "I've spoke to many people. There's no one way to deal with this problem.
"This program contains solutions at the county and state levels for those who are dealing with drug addition. Today is the first step in addressing this problem."
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.