Councilman Urges Parents to Help Combat County's Drug Problem

A Toms River official called on parents to keep watch over their children as Ocean County continues to face a drug epidemic. 

As the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office makes a renewed push to quell drug use, Toms River Councilman Al Manforti urged parents to stay involved in their children's lives and know what they're up to.

"I think it starts with us at home," he said during a Township Council meeting last week. "Keep your eyes open. Know what your kids our doing. Know who they're doing it with."

Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato has pledged to combat the problem. He has already spoken to area students, including some in Toms River, and has plans to search schools for drugs. 

A recent spike in overdoses prompted officials with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office last in April to team up with Atlantic County officials to form a task force to tackle what several law enforcement officials have dubbed a heroin "crisis" in the area.

"It's all over the county. To me, in my opinion, it's a crisis," Coronato said. 

"I'm telling you up front, I'm coming," the prosecutor told High School North students during an assembly at in the school's auditorium last month. 

A northern and southern task force was established to "communicate across the board with surrounding municipalities about where the product is coming into Ocean County from," prosecutor's office spokesman Al Della Fave told Patch. "We are being inundated from the north and south."  

Toms River Board of Education members met with Coronato earlier this month to ensure an open line of communication. 

"There is a large drug epidemic in Ocean County, and the prosecutor offered his support to help keep our schools clean and our children safe," said board President Ben Giovine. 

"It has been bothering me an awful lot," said Manforti, who recently attended the funeral of a family friend killed by an overdose. 

Just two weeks ago, Toms River police seized $15,000 worth of heroin contained in 1,513 wax folds from the Hooper Avenue Howard Johnson hotel, said Chief of Police Michael Mastronardy.

The chief said that so far in 2013, the Toms River Police Special Enforcement Team has seized more than 14,000 bags of heroin with a street value exceeding $140,000. 

The drug problem plays into a rise in thefts as users look for a way to fund their habit. 

"As a result of the addiction, these people need cash," Mastronardy told Patch months ago. 

"Everyone knows someone who is affected by this," Manforti said. "If it's not affecting you through a death, it may affect you through a robbery or break in."

The Toms River Police Department urges anyone with information about suspicious activity to call Capt. Bruce Burgess at 732-349-0150, ext. 1200 or Sgt. Shaun O’Keefe at 732-349-0150, ext 1272.