Somerset County Officials: How Can We Prevent Drug Abuse, Stop Crime?

Drug-related crimes continue to mount in Somerset County, as another local resident has been caught bringing contraband into the courthouse – the second incident in less than a month.

On Jan. 26, John D’Andrea, 27, of Gladstone was arrested by Somerset County Sheriff’s Officers at the Somerset County court house, Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano stated.

D’Andrea was arrested after a probation officer notified the Sheriffs Officers on the premises that D’Andrea had been caught with a bottle of urine concealed in his groin area during a routine drug screening.

Upon investigation, a clear plastic bottle with a blue top that contained a yellow substance was found, Provenzano stated. D’Andrea was arrested and processed for defrauding the administration of a drug test. He was released on his own recognizance.

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The prevalence of drug-related instances continues to climb countywide.

Less than two weeks before D’Andrea’s arrest, a 17-year-old was arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs and paraphernalia into the courthouse. Somerset County Police also stopped a 26-year-old woman on the road earlier this month, and found suspicious marks on her arms and numerous drug paraphernalia items in her car.

In an effort to improve substance abuse prevention throughout the area, Somerset County is conducting a public survey to help steer state funding for substance-abuse services.

Click here to complete the survey in English. Click here to complete the survey in Spanish. The deadline for responses is March 13.

“It is important that we hear from many different people so that we can better understand Somerset County’s characteristics,” said Freeholder Levine, human services liaison.

“We would really like your unique voices to be heard in this Alcohol and Drug Services Planning Survey,” Levine added. “We want to find out what county residents think about the alcoholism and drug abuse services available within our county.”

The Somerset County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services County Comprehensive Planning process is getting under way, led by Tom O’Leary, chair of the Local Advisory Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (LACADA), and county Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Coordinator Brenda Pateman.

This planning process identifies Somerset County substance-use disorder services and guides the allocation of Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Funding (AEREF), also known as the alcohol tax, according to Somerset County reps.

You also can print a copy of the survey from the county website. Return completed surveys via mail, fax or email to Emilia Fletcher, Somerset County Department of Human Services, Office of Operations and Planning, P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876.

Emilia Fletcher’s email address is fletcher@co.somerset.nj.us The office’s fax number is 908-704-1629. For questions or more information, contact Ms. Fletcher at 908-541-5726.

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• 17-Year-Old Caught Bringing Drugs, Paraphernalia Into Somerset County Court House
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