A Law is in Place to Expand Help for Substance Abusers

{President Obama Visited Integrity House One Year Ago Today.

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By David H. Kerr                  

“Governor Chris Christie has signed legislation into law that will expand drug addiction treatment programs throughout the state.

The bill, A-3744/S-2330, provides for the establishment of law enforcement-assisted addiction and recovery programs in law enforcement departments throughout the state.”

http://patch.com/new-jersey/tomsriver/gov-christie-signs-drug-treatment-expansion-law

This legislation appears to have excellent potential and maybe long overdue.  There's no "middle man" required as I read this proposal.  Police can take direct action and help can be immediately available.  No extensive calling around for a bed or getting in line with a two month waiting list in order to get help.  Naturally I would expect that if police found a street addict needing help, any other connected legal jurisdiction such as probation, parole or drug court would be notified as to what would be done for the addict, beginning at that time.  Instead of waiting in jail for a treatment bed to become available, help can start immediately and when a bed does become available, the referral can be made.  While it is an expedient solution, it is far better than incarceration with no help.

Why for many, law enforcement should be the first step to help, followed by Sister Mary L., Father Pete and I.

I have met many savvy and understanding law enforcement officers in my 50+ years of work with addicts beginning in 1965 as a state parole officer in Newark.  For the most part, those with whom I have worked have had a positive influence on the law breaking addicts they had found on the streets.  In the 60’s we developed first name communication where help for an addict was just a phone call away.  Unfortunately, there were only a handful of residential treatment programs or referral sources in the mid to late 60’s but the Mt. Carmel Guild, Sister Mary L., Father Pete, and I were in daily contact with addicts coming to us for help.  We often sent them to a farm type facility in Garrison NY for detox and treatment.  The three of us did the critical follow up and support when they returned.  The police, prosecutor and probation departments were all part of our team as well.  Through our continued close communications we became an effective team, caring enough about our recovering addict referrals to know their names and even some of their family members.

With this new law, police will be allowed and encouraged to take addicts right from the "streets," offer them help and advice and see that they enter treatment.  Police officers now have little option but to place an addict in jail for crimes related to the disease of addiction while awaiting an open treatment bed.  Adding police to the network of addiction help is not a new concept and in fact, it has been practiced informally for decades.  With this new law however, the essential but informal liaison between police and the treatment networks can be formalized offering more opportunity for help for those on long waiting lists.  Linking law enforcement with treatment programs is also not new, but giving front line police officers a more direct connection with treatment is an idea that can now become a reality.

The consequences of this law working effectively could ultimately place an even greater demand on drug treatment and our Governor and legislators must prepare for this reality now.  Here is a summary of the proposed legislation:

“This new law allows police officers —often the first people to discover nonviolent drug offenders in their worst state — to become a point of access for help and recovery," Christie said. "This law improves upon access and assistance for those suffering from addiction, helping them to obtain treatment and re-enter society as productive members.”

The law also provides for:

·    Supporting and facilitating the linkage of law enforcement-assisted addiction and recovery programs to facilities and programs that provide appropriate substance abuse recovery services and health care services

·    Coordinating with law enforcement officials and program volunteers to ensure that individuals seeking to participate in the program are treated with respect, care and compassion, and are reassured that assistance will be provided

·    Establishing requirements for an individual to be eligible for participation in the program, and develop and implement procedures for determining eligibility requirements for the program.

The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Richard J. Codey and Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee chairman Joseph F. Vitale.

Law enforcement will also help a treatment completer to maintain contacts with his/her treatment coach and mentor for the essential five years after treatment completion.

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Governor Christie Signs Legislation Strengthening State’s Fight Against Addiction

For Immediate Release                        Contact:  Brian Murray

Wednesday, October 26, 2016                        609-777-2600

Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie today signed legislation to enhance and expand addiction treatment opportunities and improve relationships between law enforcement officers and those suffering from addiction.

“All too often people afflicted with the disease of addiction have negative, counterproductive and repeated interactions with the criminal justice system,” Governor Christie said. “This new law allows police officers —often the first people to discover nonviolent drug offenders in their worst state — to become a point of access for help and recovery. This law improves upon access and assistance for those suffering from addiction, helping them to obtain treatment and re-enter society as productive members.”

Drug overdose death rates in New Jersey have been reported this year as multiple times higher than increasing national rates.

A-3744/S-2330 (McKeon, Vainieri Huttle, Caputo, Jasey, Downey/Codey, Vitale), with the governor’s recommendations from an August conditional veto, provides for the establishment of these law enforcement-assisted addiction and recovery programs in law enforcement departments throughout the State. Under this new law, the Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in consultation with the Attorney General, will prescribe by regulation requirements for county and municipal law enforcement departments to establish a program within their departments; develop and implement guidelines for the recruitment and training of law enforcement officers, volunteers, and treatment providers to participate in the program; support and facilitate the linkage of law enforcement assisted addiction and recovery programs to facilities and programs that provide appropriate substance abuse recovery services and health care services; coordinate with law enforcement officials and program volunteers to ensure that individuals seeking to participate in the program are treated with respect, care, and compassion, and are reassured that assistance will be provided; establish requirements for an individual to be eligible for participation in the program; and develop and implement procedures for determining eligibility requirements for the program.

This reform is the latest lifesaving action taken by Governor Christie’s administration, to go along with drug court expansion; statewide Narcan and recovery coach program implementation; new legal protections for those helping drug overdose victims; criminal justice reform to put nonviolent offenders on a path to recovery and productivity; the conversion of a correctional facility into a drug treatment center for inmates with addictions; and increased participation in the multistate Prescription Monitoring Program to prevent doctor shopping.