Halloween in Ocean Grove, 2015. By Jean Bredin, Blogfinger staff ©

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.

Yesterday, January 9, 2017, we had nearly 1,400 views on Blogfinger, and most of them were interested in the “Rehab” topic.  Our poll has attracted over 300 participants, and 76% feel that a rehab facility would endanger the  town.

The reaction is fascinating because the residents of the Grove seem to understand that some sort of turning point has been reached, and no matter what aspect of the discussion is emphasized, most seem to “get” that attention must be paid.

We have touched on the subject of compassion—ie the notion that addiction is a problem which is so important in our society that it can affect life and death.  The victims of addiction are our family members, our coworkers, and our neighbors.  They are not necessarily, or even usually, criminals.  So that awareness tempers the opinions of most of our most thoughtful readers.

Today, Governor Christie said that his last year in office would be a time to do more about drug addiction, and we know that there have been about 1,500 overdose deaths in New Jersey this past year,  and that Monmouth County is a focal point.  We also know that the DEA has recently set up shop in our neighborhood to help local law enforcement deal with this scourge.  And part of the solution is therapy, and where are those facilities to be located?

In a town like this, residential, congested, and historic, it is reasonable for the townspeople to be concerned that such a facility doesn’t belong here.  And if a resident is a parent, then the concern gets even more acute, as in the comment below from OG Mom:

“I share the alarm of all of the respondents regarding a drug facility on Ocean Avenue. It raises a lot of questions regarding why a facility needs to be in such a prime location. And I was not here in the 80’s but I appreciate the fact that the proportion of drug/alcohol addicts/ people who are mentally ill tipped the balance.

“That said, suppose it does come to pass. What demands are in our rights as homeowners? How can we affectively control the outcome so that it does not aversely affect our town? So that it is done right, with minimal impact on our lifestyle? What is an effective (maybe even compassionate) response or role in having a commercial rehab facility in our presence? What is the facility’s legal obligation to the community, in terms of safety, appearance, even decorum? The last thing that we need is for this to be coupled with a flight of homeowners.

“And as an added perspective, I have a child who spent time in a facility (and yes, has stayed with me in OG too!). I was so grateful for the availability of the facility that we used. I was grateful that it was on first inspection nice enough that she agreed to go in. I will also state that the patients were watched 24/7 and that the rules were enforced very strictly. They certainly were not allowed to leave the property; the administrators were well-aware of the risks of giving recovering addicts much freedom.

“If  Iwere looking for a facility at this point, Ocean Grove would be appealing because it is a dry town, and also because its kind and open-minded residents have always made me feel as though it is a place to go in order to heal. Of course it would be fair to have another town share some of the burden; the opinions voiced above a completely valid and the fear of mismanagement is real. The people entering a drug/alcohol/mental illness facility face (and bring) some real challenges, but they are not villains. They are my daughter.”

AARON WEINSTEIN  “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.”