Organizers want the public to know that the police are there to help in the event of an overdose.
Center for Addiction Recovery Education and Success (C.A.R.E.S.) of Warren County, Warren County Prevention Resources and Phillipsburg Police Department recently completed the first Police Support Recovery Event, a walk to educate the community on the Good Samaritan Law and the Substance Abuse Act, which offers immunity to people who call to report an overdose.
Public officials including Mayor Stephen Ellis, Council president Todd Tersigni and members of the Phillipsburg Police Department and Mansfield Police Department participated in the walk which started and ended at Walters Park after making a three-mile loop through town.
Organizers say the purpose of the walk was to help reduce the stigma about law enforcement and recovering addicts. Too often, people are afraid to call 911 about an overdose but laws offer immunity to callers and police have resources to help.