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The opioid epidemic sweeping the country has put a strain on resources in Newark, forcing Bethel Counseling Services to nd new ways to help those in need. Bethel has a longstanding partnership with Bergen Regional Medical Center, using a van to drive people to detox at the hospital. Bergen reserves bed space for Bethel clients, but lately they’ve had more demand than beds. Bethel staff say they’ve always seen people struggling with heroin addictions, but now prescription medications have come to the forefront, especially with young people. “It’s taking our young people by storm. I’ve never seen so many 20-year-olds going to detox,” says Khalise Blanding, a behavioral technician in charge of the detox van. “It just hurts your heart because those are our kids, that’s the future, and they don’t even know the world that they're getting into.”

Besides the prescription drugs, new substances are showing up in mixtures without users’ knowledge. More and more, law enforcement of cials are nding heroin supplies cut with fentanyl, which is about 50 times more powerful than pure heroin and can have deadly consequences. “The heroin is worse than it was before because it’s being mixed with all kinds of things now,” Blanding says. “It makes it really hard to maintain [sobriety].”

“I’VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY 20-YEAR-OLDS GOING TO DETOX.” - Khalise Blanding, behavioral technician, Bethel Counseling Services

CHASING AN EPIDEMIC T R Y I NG T O KE E P UP WI TH THE DEMAND F OR DE T OX AM I D AN OP I O I D CR I S I S 12