Blogfinger Wassup Blue Cow BF photo.
a. We mentioned that there will be increased religious tourism in town, and that will include a group called The Liquid Church. This Christian organization has sites throughout New Jersey, and recently they have begun a Monmouth County branch. The local group will meet every Saturday night for religious observances in the Great Auditorium. Between 500-1,000 millennials are expected each Saturday throughout the summer, and even before that.
b. We understand that Nagle’s will not reopen this season, although nothing has been officially announced. In addition, because of the loss of the Dunes, it will be tough having enough places to eat this season, so many of our tourists will wind up in Asbury Park for meals, but they will still look for parking in the Grove.
c. Opiate deaths at the Shore: The DEA is about town.
Special Agent Michael Goldfinger of the Monmouth-Ocean DEA office speaks to nurses and security people at Ocean Medical Center in Brick.
There is a terrible problem of deaths and addiction due to opiates in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, so the DEA has set up a Jersey Shore office here. In 2017 there were 70,000 deaths in the US from heroin, opioids and fentanyl. Every day in the US there are 192 overdose deaths.
In 2018, Narcan was used 4,179 times in New Jersey. Overdose deaths are up 40% in NJ. Deaths from opiates in NJ have gone up even though prescription ordering has gone down, indicating that there are many ways to get these drugs without stealing them from hospitals and clinics or by getting them from irresponsible doctors.
By county, Essex County is number one in the State in opiate deaths, but Monmouth and Ocean are #3 and #4. That is why the DEA in Washington established a base here; it is a substation of the Newark Office. Special Agent Michael Goldfinger was instrumental in setting up the Shore operation, and that is where his base is located.
The biggest problem recently is a potent mixture of heroin and fentanyl. Fentanyl is inexpensive and is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. Dealers are mixing the two, and even tiny amounts of fentanyl can kill one person. A small amount of fentanyl powder, the size of half a penny, can kill a roomful of people.
In addition, fentanyl is sometimes used to make fake oxycodone tabs, and a recipient may be in for a dangerous surprise.
Fentanyl is less expensive that heroin, so the dealers make more money mixing it with heroin, and they do not hesitate doing so, despite the risks.
Addicts buy small envelopes with the powdered mix. The mixture doesn’t even have to be injected. A tiny amount inhaled can cause death.
The DEA is conducting an outreach to educate healthcare providers, and in this case, Special Agent Goldfinger was teaching nurses how to identify addicts and dealers in their midst–patients, visitors, and staff. He cautioned nurses and staff at Brick’s Ocean Medical Center to take care of themselves and avoid exposure to suspicious materials seen as they move about their floors.
If they see something worrisome, they are to back off and call security or call the police. The DEA will respond if they are called about a worrisome situation. The DEA works with local police departments.
Agent Goldfinger said that his group does not arrest addicts. They are focused on dealers, distribution routes and cartels. He told the group about some of his assignments in places such as Columbia, Newark, Caribbean, Florida, and even the high seas as they go after shipments.
The fentanyl is made synthetically in China and Mexico, and can easily be smuggled because it is so potent. The use of Narcan (an antidote used in OD cases) by law enforcement and healthcare personnel has saved many lives.
For more information, click link below:
link to njcares.gov
d. The Town-Wide Yard Sale on May 11 now has 23 sites, already a good number that will please yard sale fans. Check our yard sale tab on the top of this home page. You can also scroll down from here to see the current list of addresses. We expect many more. Email us if you want some fliers to place in good locations. Blogfinger@verizon.net
e. Blog stats 2,337 hits the day after the fire. There were 18 foreign countries including China, Norway and France. But nothing can be compared to the 25,000 hits we had the day after Sandy in October, 2012.
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