Kids On Drugs? Take Them To Police For Help, Bergen Prosecutor Says
GARFIELD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Bergen County is taking a new route on the battlefield in the war on drugs.
As WCBS 880's Levon Putney reported, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli is putting out the word if parents sense their children are on drugs, they should bring them to a police department.
"Years ago, there would be an arrest," Molinelli said. "The son would be arrested. Now we're not arresting."
Instead, law enforcement is referring kids to counseling services.
"We need to help the parents -- parents of those that suffer from addiction," Molinelli said.
Molinelli said he hates when people say the war on drugs has been lost. He added that county officials cannot arrest their way toward solving the problem.
"I believe that all of us need to change the way in which we're fighting that war," Molinelli said.
Dr. Anthony D'Urso, a children's psychologist at Hackensack University Medical Center, said when prosecutors and cops take handcuffs and charges off the table in these cases, "then kids are going to be more open to getting help."
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