Middletown Doing 'Great Deal' to Combat Drug Problems, Committeeman Says

What can be done to quell heroin usage in Middletown?

A Patch list published Thursday showed that Middletown had 255 reported cases of heroin abuse in 2012. 

Committeeman Anthony Fiore responded to the article in comments on the on the Middletown Patch Facebook page and said that the township is working to address the issue.

"Middletown has done a great deal and continues to do a great deal about all drug problems," he writes. "We have one of the best Municipal Alliance programs that helps educate children as well as provides counseling and support to those who have been affected. Our police and quality of life unit are also a big part of the Bayshore Narcotics task force."

The proportion of heroin use to population should be taken into account, too, the committeeman said in the comments section of the original article. 

"Heroin abuse is definitely a problem in Middletown and everywhere," Fiore writes. "However I think calling 255 cases out of approximately 70,000 residents an epidemic is stretching the truth for headlines."

On Facebook, Diana Watson Stover said that it is "sad" to see Middletown on the list and urged that "everything" is done "to protect our town."

"Let's Go Middletown Police! Clean up this town! You can start on my block," writes Sue Jones. 

One way to help spread the word about the danger of the drug is an outreach program sponsored by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office called "Heroin Kills." It will be presented at the High School North auditorium on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.

What do you think should be done to combat heroin use in Middletown and elsewhere? Tell us in the comments below.