A special presentation last month at Camden Catholic High School drew attention to the serious issue of prescription opioids and heroin abuse. The free program and forum was sponsored by the Diocese of Camden, Discovery Ministries, Inc., and Catholic Charities, and had the support of numerous local groups, including Pennsauken Township’s municipal government, the Pennsauken Board of Education, and the Pennsauken Police Department.

“In my 26 years of working for the DEA, I have never seen a drug problem to the magnitude that we have right now in the United States. Oftentimes the word ‘epidemic’ is overused. I can tell you right now, this is an epidemic. There are people dying every day,” says Nicholas J. Kolen, assistant special agent in charge, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, who served as the main presenter on May 17. “I would bet pretty much every one of you either knows somebody using drugs, who is addicted to drugs, or somehow or other is involved with drug abuse. It’s unfortunate, but it’s reality.”

During his presentation, Kolen talked about the issue of addiction to prescription drugs and heroin and how it’s impacting South Jersey; what the DEA is doing to address this issue; and what the community can do to attack the problem.

“All of you play a major role. We have to come together,” says Kolen. “We have a lot of committees, foundations, taskforces, you name it. We need more involvement from all of you.”

The presentation was followed by an engaging panel with individuals who have personal, hands-on experience with the issue of drug addiction: Stephen Smarrito, a former addict; Wendy Nelson-Beach, whose son died from a drug overdose; Father John Stabeno, director of Catholic Charities’ Addiction Healing Ministry; and Mark Pesotski, a pharmacist who began abusing opiates and turned his life around. Each shared their stories and answered questions from attendees.

The evening concluded with attendees visiting a multitude of resource stations, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and treatment centers, all focused on providing assistance and education on the serious issue of drug addiction.

“This special forum is a great first step on addressing drug addiction in our community,” says Nick Perry, president, Pennsauken Township Board of Education. “Too many loved ones are lost to this disease. We, as a community, have to do more; it starts with providing parents and teachers with the necessary resources to educate our children about the tragedy impact that drug abuse has on people’s lives.”

A video of Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kolen’s presentation will be made available on Channel 19, as well as Pennsauken Township’s and the Pennsauken School District’s web sites and Facebook pages. In addition, parents, teachers, and caregivers can access free online resources about the issue of drug abuse – including videos and downloadable educational materials – by visiting OperationPrevention.com and GetSmartAboutDrugs.gov.