Volunteers, loved ones honor victims of addiction as pandemic worsens path to recovery

There have already been 1,626 opioid-related deaths in New Jersey this year. Organizers say things have only gotten worse because of COVID.

News 12 Staff

Aug 26, 2021, 10:31 PM

Updated 1,143 days ago

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Volunteers from the nonprofit Recovery Advocates for the Shore, along with family members who lost a loved one to addiction, planted flags in Manasquan in their honor Thursday.
There have already been 1,626 opioid-related deaths in New Jersey this year. Organizers say things have only gotten worse because of COVID.
"The pandemic has made recovery very hard for a lot of people. There have been a lot of deaths, young people, old, people ... There are no meetings that are available. People don't want to attend online because they need that person-to-person interaction," said Heather McGovern, a volunteer.
Recovery Advocates for the Shore provides treatment options and other resources for those struggling with addiction.