2 addiction counselors die of opioid overdoses
Two men found dead in their bedrooms at Freedom Ridge Recovery Lodge
WEST BRANDYWINE >> Drugs found in a baggie with a Superman logo are actually more like “a monster that is slowly consuming our population,” according to Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.
Authorities said Wednesday that two addiction counselors died Sunday of opioid overdoses at a halfway house known as Freedom Ridge Recovery Lodge in West Brandywine Township.
“If anybody is wondering how bad the opioid epidemic has become, this case is a frightening example,” Hogan said in a statement Wednesday. “The staff members in charge of supervising recovering addicts succumbed to their own addiction and died of opioid overdoses. Opioids are a monster that is slowly consuming our population.”
Emergency responders were called to Freedom Ridge Recovery Lodge on Sunday at about 2:15 p.m. after residents found the counselors unresponsive in separate bedrooms and they unsuccessfully attempted to revive one of the counselors with a nasal injection of naloxone. Both counselors were pronounced dead at the scene.
So-called “recovery houses” are facilities where people recovering from addiction sometimes go after they have completed inpatient rehabilitation programs and have lived in supervised halfway houses. They do not necessarily provide therapeutic counseling or other certified services, but act as a place for those trying to overcome addiction are given a space to live before rejoining the community at large.
“We feel the environment and surroundings are important in recovery,” the Freedom Ridge website states in part. “In early recovery, sharing the journey with a group of men, who need the same support is powerful. However, everyone’s road is unique even if the goal is the same.
“We have safeguards and rules in place to ensure the safety and protection of all residents. These are reviewed at the time of intake and we make sure everyone understands all expectations. We have a zero tolerance policy.”
Baggies stamped with a Superman logo and danger/skull & crossbones logo were found in the counselors’ bedrooms and tested positive for heroin and fentanyl, according to police. Additionally, police found used needles in their bedrooms. Preliminary toxicology tests showed they were positive for heroin and fentanyl, according to the D.A.’s office.
Hogan warned people to “stay away” from these drugs with such labels on the baggies.
“They appear to be heroin laced with fentanyl and are likely to kill anybody who uses them,” Hogan said. He added that they won’t even allow law enforcement officers to “handle them without special precautions because of the extreme danger of death or injury.”
The two men who fatally overdosed, whom police did not identify, lived at the home as on-site counselors with six male residents. One of the victims was 33 years old and the other had just turned 25 that day. Police say the counselors’ duties included organizing daily activities and keeping medications under lock-and-key. The halfway house is located at 139 Freedom Valley Circle, in a residential area. The facility is a private residence used as a group home, or halfway house, for people struggling with addiction, according to authorities. “These deaths are tragic examples of the impact that the heroin and opioid epidemic continues to have on our communities,” said Vince Brown, director of the Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol. “Nobody is immune. But it is important to know that help is available and that recovery, from any addiction, is possible and happens every day.”
The case is being investigated by the Chester County Detectives and West Brandywine Police Department. Police ask anyone with additional information to contact Chester County Detective Ben Martin at 610-3446866.