The Franklin Lakes Borough Police Department is instituting a new policy that is aimed to providing heroin addicts with the medical assistance they need in case of an overdose.

According to law enforcement, Franklin Lakes police will no longer arrest or charge individuals who come forward to indicate that they need help dealing with addiction to heroin or other opiates.

Under the terms of the new amnesty program, heroin addicts will avoid prosecution and will instead be referred to drug counseling and drug addiction recovery services.

The policy change has been implemented in response to a growing epidemic of heroin abuse in Franklin Lakes and elsewhere in New Jersey. Authorities are finding that far too many drug users are not getting the assistance they need to beat their addictions. Moreover, a lot of heroin addicts are afraid to come forward for fear of being prosecuted for heroin possession and ending up behind bars. That’s why the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office has worked with the Franklin Lakes Borough Council to implement the new policy.

The chief of police for the Franklin Lakes Police Department said that the department plans to “provide whatever help it can to addicts who themselves seek help or for whom help is sought.” That last part is important because it indicates that the new amnesty program will also apply if a heroin user’s parents, children, spouse or other relative notifies law enforcement.

For more information about this case, access the Patch.com article, “Franklin Lakes Police Implement Heroin Amnesty Program.”