CNBNews

Jefferson Health’s Camden County-based hospitals in Cherry Hill and Stratford recently received more than 400 free opioid overdose response kits. The kits were provided by the Camden County Office of Mental Health and Addiction, in collaboration with the Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force. Jefferson Health will soon distribute these kits to patients at their Camden County-based hospitals suffering from overdoses or substance use disorder issues to prevent future overdoses and save lives.

Jefferson Health East Region President Aaron Chang noted that the health system is grateful to the county for providing these lifesaving kits: “The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact in our community and joint collaboration with community partners is the only way we can improve the current situation,” Chang said. “We are pleased to work with Camden County on such a vital and needed service.”

Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. noted that the county is “trying to make Narcan available in nearly every aspect of public life,” adding that NaloxBoxes have been installed in every county-owned building, public park, public school, and on several school buses “to make sure that no matter where an overdose may occur, we have tools readily available to save a life and this effort is paying off.”

John Pellicane and Patty DiRenzo of the Camden County Office of Mental Health & Addiction are shown delivering the kits to Jefferson Stratford Hospital.

Anyone seeking addiction assistance should call 1-844-ReachNJ (732-2465), which provides free professional support for those facing addiction and their loved ones. If you are a Camden County resident suffering from substance abuse disorder, please call the Office of Mental Health and Addiction at (856) 374-6361.