Pubdate: Wed, 17 Oct 2001
Source: The Express-Times (PA)
Copyright: 2001 The Express-Times
Contact:  http://www.pennlive.com/expresstimes/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1489
Author: Terrence Dopp

HUNTERDON SUMMIT TO ADDRESS DRUG WOES

RARITAN TWP. - With at least eight confirmed heroin deaths in Hunterdon 
County this year, a collection of county agencies is getting ready to roll 
up its sleeves and tackle the problem.

Representatives of the state Human Services Department, county prosecutors 
and freeholders are slated to hold a countywide drug summit 7 p.m. Oct. 29 
at the county administration building on Route 12.

Substance abuse counselors, school officials and parents will also be 
involved in the meeting, which will address the scope of drug use in 
Hunterdon and how to make inroads toward stopping it.

Stakeholders in the committee holding the forum are expected to unveil an 
action plan aimed at curbing drug use, according to a statement from Angelo 
DiOrio, Human Services administrator.

The meeting will focus on interdiction, identification and intervention, 
along with making help available, according to the statement. This 
information is a vital component of anti-drug efforts, one official said.

"Our kids (those ages 13 to 25) are the ones using drugs in this county," 
said Kenneth Harding, a lieutenant in the detective division of the 
Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office. "The answer to this problem has long 
been to do this. When we talk about kids, their parents, probably 75 
percent of the time, don't know what they are doing."

Harding said in a county such as Hunterdon, which does not have a 
centralized, local source of the drugs tracking them can prove difficult. 
He said parents can play a vital role.

Harding said heroin leads the list of priorities, along with more 
traditional drugs such as marijuana and new club drugs like Ecstasy. Many 
of the drugs come from Newark and Trenton, he said.

"When you are talking about heroin we don't have a place in Hunterdon 
County where people go to buy heroin," said Harding, who added having to 
send detectives to various locations throughout the state taxes resources. 
"They are going, buying, using it and coming back."

The drugs kids and adults get can be fatal.

In January, 17-year-old Gregory Baltz of High Bridge died of a heroin 
overdose at his borough home. One teen involved in the fatal night, Brandon 
Winters, is awaiting trial on charges in the drug-induced death.

Another teen involved in the trip to Newark to buy the heroin that killed 
Baltz, 18-year-old Leonardo DiPasquale of Califon, died in July after an 
overdose.

One Monday authorities reported another death in Flemington, this time 
25-year-old Fernando Ledesma of Regional Court.

DiOrio could not be reached for comment Tuesday. His agency is leading the 
charge against drugs.
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