Crime & Safety

Norfolk County DA Hosts Stoughton Officials at Drug Abuse Prevention Summit

The summit took place in April in Atlanta, Georgia.

Several public safety officials from Stoughton recently joined Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrisey at the 2014 National Prescription Drug Abuse Summit in Atlanta. 

Stoughton Police Chief Paul Shastany, Stoughton Fire Chief Mark Dolloff and OASIS Prevention Coordinator Stephanie Patton took part in the summit over April Vacation Week, Morrissey's office said Friday. 

"Prescription drugs, particularly opiates, are being diverted for non-medical use and abuse in every corner of Norfolk County,” Morrissey said in a statement. "It is fueling most of our property crimes, many violent crimes and has led to an astonishing number of fatal overdoses. The word crisis is too weak to describe what is happening in Massachusetts."

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Educators, social workers and police and government officials learned about substance abuse prevention with various seminars. 

"We are fortunate to have been awarded one of only six category two federal Harold Rogers prescription drug monitoring grants, which has enabled us to bring a large group from Norfolk County," Morrissey said. "With comprehensive prescription drug collection and disposal available, including the Stoughton Police Station, Narcan overdose reversal training and kits available to every police and fire department in the country and some of our other efforts in place, we appear somewhat ahead of much of the country. But there is always more to learn, and there is still much work and struggle ahead of us."

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