Middlesex
County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey announces a new initiative in Middlesex
County entitled, “Blue Cares.” Its mission is to coordinate efforts between members
of law enforcement and our community partners to most effectively use all available
resources to prevent and treat drug addiction.
Through
Blue Cares, law enforcement officers
cultivate an environment that fosters recovery through readily available local
and regional addiction recovery networks.
Emphasis is placed upon providing family and friends of the addicted
with assistance to get their loved ones the help they need. In addition to
directly promoting health and well-being, Blue
Cares aims to reduce the stigma associated with addiction.
“Law enforcement officers routinely
administer naloxone (Narcan) to prevent immediate death. We recognize that this
is just the beginning of what it takes to truly save the life of an addict,” said
Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey. He further stated that, “Blue Cares identifies
those individuals in the community who require intervention and offers them and
their families a network of providers that are immediately available to assist
them in the recovery process.”
Blue Cares has a 24-hour hotline (732) 596-4199, which is
answered by Peer Recovery coaches who can assist callers with
referrals or immediate services, regardless if they have insurance.
John
McCormac, Mayor of Woodbridge Township stated, “I am confident that the
coordination between Prosecutor Carey and Dr. Bonnie Nolan, Woodbridge
Township’s Addiction Service’ coordinator, will lead to success in our
continuing efforts to provide education and addiction counseling to those and
their families who need it.”
The
Prosecutor’s Office has initiated this new collaborative partnership with the
Middlesex County Public Health Department, Middlesex County Office of Human
Services – Division of Addictions and Mental Health Planning, Middlesex County
Chiefs of Police Association, Woodbridge Township Health and Human Services –
Addition & Recovery, the Wellspring Center for Prevention, and Mainstream
Recovery.
Those
seeking help with addiction can call the Blue
Cares 24-hour hotline (732) 596-4199.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey is
grateful for this funding opportunity, which is provided by the Honorable
Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. Blue
Cares is financially supported by the
New Jersey Coordinator for Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies (“NJ
CARES”) grant program and is based on the Attorney General’s “Operation Helping
Hand” initiative.
The grant funding originally came from federal
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and was passed through to NJ CARES
by the state Department of Health.
This
collaborative partnership is managed by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s
Office. If you would like more information about promoting the Blue Cares program in your community, please contact Lieutenant Melissa
Terpanick of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3982.