The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
Fentanyl has cast a long and deadly shadow over countless lives and communities. Its potency and addictive nature have made it a formidable adversary, trapping individuals in a cycle of dependence and despair. Overcoming fentanyl addiction demands a comprehensive and compassionate approach that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of this complex disorder.
Continue reading The Essential Steps In Fentanyl Addiction Treatment: A Comprehensive Guide
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Rochelle Park NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of RAEQUANN REID, 29, of Paterson, NJ for strict liability in a drug-induced death and drug distribution-related charges. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Rochelle Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Dean Pinto.
Continue reading Drug Dealer Charged in Over Dose Death of Rochelle Park Man
Left to Right: Chief Dillon, Chief Ackermann, Prosecutor Mark Musella, Lt. Todd Griffith, Dr. Rajinder Gandhi, and Carol Saluppo BCPO Chief of Staff
photo courtesy of Glen Rock Police
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Ridgewood NJ, on March 19th, Glen Rock Chief Dean Ackermann and Allendale Police Chief Michael Dillon joined Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella at the Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Club luncheon. #BCPONJ is continuing to sound the alarm about the prevalence of life-threatening fentanyl. Prosecutor Musella has been speaking with Bergen County residents about the dangers of taking any substance not prescribed by a doctor. It is virtually impossible to distinguish counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills from legitimate prescription pills.
Continue reading Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Hosts Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella
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Paterson NJ, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today announced that about three and a half pounds of suspected fentanyl powder and over 1,000 suspected fentanyl pills were among the narcotics seized when a search warrant was executed in Paterson. The drugs seized have a street value of nearly $1 million, and the suspect is alleged to have been distributing drugs in bulk.
Continue reading Major Drug Mill Raided in Paterson Nearly $1 Million Worth of Drugs Seized
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Oakland NJ, a Bergen County, New Jersey, man and a New York woman were charged for their roles in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy operating in and around Bergen County, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Continue reading Major Fentanyl Drug Ring Busted in Bergen County
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Fairview NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of GERALDO COLON (DOB: 11/22/1987; married; unemployed) of Fairview, NJ on charges of endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Fairview Police Department under the direction of Chief David Brennan.
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Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced an investigation into the death of a woman from an apparent fentanyl-related drug overdose in Hackensack, NJ. The investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Captain Michael Antista.
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Little Ferry NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of CAMERINO HERNANDEZ-ATANACIO (DOB: 8/21/1990; single; unemployed) and ALEXIS ARAUJO-ATANACIO (DOB: 10/07/2003; single; unemployed) both of 1314 Wilson Street, Odessa, TX on drug offenses. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the New York Drug Enforcement Administration under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarantino, III.
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Houston TX, a research team led by the University of Houston has developed a vaccine targeting the dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl that could block its ability to enter the brain, thus eliminating the drug’s “high.” The breakthrough discovery could have major implications for the nation’s opioid epidemic by becoming a relapse prevention agent for people trying to quit using opioids. While research reveals Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is treatable, an estimated 80% of those dependent on the drug suffer a relapse.
Continue reading New Fentanyl Vaccine Called Potential ‘Game Changer’ for Opioid Epidemic
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Fort Lee NJ, a New York man today admitted distribution and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Continue reading New York Man Admits Distributing Fentanyl in Fort Lee
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Teaneck NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of EDOMAR TRONCOSO (DOB: 10/05/1993; married; self-employed)of 1686 Grand Concourse, Bronx, New York; HANSER HERNANDEZ-SOTO (DOB: 07/03/1997; single; self-employed) of 1361 Clay Avenue, Bronx, New York; and JEFRI DOMINGUEZ (DOB: 03/10/1987; single; self-employed) of 31 W. Tremont Avenue, Bronx, New York on charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and conspiracy. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love.
Continue reading Motor Vehicle Stop in Teaneck Results in the Arrest of Three Bronx Drug Dealers
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Fort Lee NJ, a Bergen County pharmacy today admitted its role in a conspiracy to illegally distribute prescription opioids and to give kickbacks to healthcare providers, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Continue reading Fort lee Pharmacy Admits Illegal Distribution of Prescription Opioids
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Paterson NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan today announced arrests of five persons in the takedown of a major fentanyl and heroin mill in Paterson, N.J., that distributed its narcotics in wax folds stamped with the same brand names that have been linked to 14 fatal and 13 nonfatal overdoses.
Continue reading Major Fentanyl and Heroin Mill in Paterson Busted
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Hasbrouck Heights NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrests of ROMULO CHAIDEZ MEDRANO (DOB: 6/7/1992; single; and unemployed) of 12 Oton Almada, Sinaloa, Mexico and ARCENIO CHAIDEZ MEDRANO (DOB: 10/20/1982; single; and unemployed) of Angel de la guarda 1534A Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico on charges of Possession With Intent To Distribute A Controlled Dangerous Substance, namely crystal methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.
June 30,2018
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Wyckoff NJ, To help combat New Jersey’s opioid crisis, Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney (R 40) has introduced legislation reclassifying tramadol as a drug with the same addictive qualities as oxycodone and fentanyl. The upgrade limits initial prescriptions to a five-day supply.
The federal government classifies prescription drugs and narcotics based on their acceptable medical use and potential for dependency. Schedule I drugs are considered the most dangerous; schedule V the least. Rooney’s bill (A4300) makes tramadol, a schedule IV synthetic opioid pain killer, a schedule II drug, the same as oxycodone and fentanyl.
“Fentanyl is fueling the opioid epidemic right now in New Jersey and the nation, but studies show tramadol may be as addictive and its use is increasing,” said Rooney (R-Bergen). “High doses have similar effects to oxycodone, making it a very dangerous drug. The opioid crisis is the result of overprescribing pain medications. This is an effort to prevent that from happening with tramadol. Placing it in the same category as similar pain killers is common sense.”
Studies show tramadol can produce a euphoric high similar to oxycodone and heroin. The number of prescriptions written doubled from 22 million to 44 million from 2008 to 2014.
“Like similar opioids, tramadol can be lethal if abused,” continued Rooney. “What makes it even more alarming is antidotes such as naloxone don’t completely reverse tramadol overdoses. We need to stop this drug from being overprescribed now before it becomes the next opioid of choice.”
Legislation signed into law last year restricts initial opioid prescriptions to a 5-day supply, making New Jersey’s limit one of the strictest in the country.
There were 2,284 overdose deaths in New Jersey from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, a 34.7 percent increase from the previous year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials attribute the rise to increased fentanyl use.
