College holds drug training course

NEWTON — With illegal drug trends continuing to evolve within the community, it is more important than ever for police, fire and EMT personnel to stay on top of the latest issues.

To help meet that need, Sussex County Community College recently hosted a Basic Drug Recognition Course for Police, Fire, and EMS Personnel in the area.

The event, which took place in late February, was held in conjunction with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Heroin and Opiates Task Force Initiative.

The course enabled attendees to identify heroin, opiates, and other narcotics. In addition, attendees were instructed on the procedures for reporting drug-related incidents through established channels. Attendees earned certificates for participating in the program.

"This is a hot item right now," said Bill McGovern, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for Criminal Justice and Fire Science Technology at SCCC. "The training is very timely particularly with what is going on with heroin and the use of Narcan [which is used for saving individuals who overdose] in the community."

The program drew over 150 law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel from Sussex County.

Instructors from around the state were present at the course to provide training and insight regarding drug recognition and enforcement.

In attendance were New Jersey State Police Sergeant Adam Polhemus, Dr. Terry Clancy of the NJ Department of Health, Jim Doran, the Chief CRNA at the Department of Anesthesiology and University Hospital - Newark, and Greg DePaul, Jr., a specialist on the NJ State Police Hazardous Response Team.

Also providing instruction were Becky Carlson, Executive Director of the NJ Center for Prevention and Counseling, Michael DeMarco, Passaic County Chief Assistant Prosecutor, and members of the Narcotics Task Force of the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The course was also co-hosted by the Middle Atlantic – Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network, New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center, NJ Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services, NJ State Police Hazardous Materials Response Team, Center for Prevention and Counseling, and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office.

To learn more about SCCC and its community programming visit www.sussex.edu.