OCEAN COUNTY – A program where police help addicts transition into care is undergoing a change in which will now involve the health department becoming a partner, according to officials.
Blue HART was a celebrated program where people with drug problems could come to a police station, surrender any drugs and ask for help without any fear of being arrested. They would then be connected with addiction assistance.
Blue HART, which started in 2017, stood for Heroin Addiction Response Team. It will now be reborn into Blue HOPE. The changes will allow law enforcement and community partners deal more effectively with this problem, officials said.
“I have long considered heroin and opioid abuse to be a public health crisis,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. “The Ocean County Health Department’s Department of Substance Abuse, Addiction and Opioid Dependency will serve as our partner in the administration of Blue HOPE. This partnership will allow us to collectively streamline programs for those with substance use disorder in Ocean County.”
Billhimer added, “our participating local police departments will continue as a first point of contact for Ocean County residents that are in need of services. These residents can report to their participating local police departments and from there be directly linked to a provider/licensed agency. This collaboration for Blue HOPE exemplifies the public health and law enforcement partnership needed to make change in our community.”
“The Ocean County Health Department has been providing substance abuse services since 1995. The Department of Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Opioid Dependency oversees multiple programs including the County Comprehensive Grant from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Intoxicated Driver Resource Program, the Municipal Alliances, the Ocean County Overdose Fatality Review Program as well as prevention programs,” stated Kimberly L. Reilly, MA, LPC, Chief of Administrative Services, Department of Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Opioid Dependency, Ocean County Health Department.
Residents with drug issues will continue to go to participating police departments to get linked to a provider for substance abuse, officials said. They will be evaluated to determine what kind of care is needed.
Participants will start the process to be linked to whatever treatment is considered appropriate, such as detoxification, residential or outpatient services. They will then receive 12 weeks of follow-up calls from their provider to give them guidance and support. Voluntarily recovery case management, which includes an in-person visit and telephone calls are an option.
The following Departments are available for this program:
- Barnegat Township Police Department: Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Ocean Mental Health Services, 712 E. Bay Avenue, Manahawkin
- Brick Township Police Department: Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Preferred Behavioral Health, 700 Airport Road, Lakewood
- Jackson Township Police Department: Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Ocean Mental Health Services, 35 Beaverson Blvd., Brick
- Lacey Township Police Department: Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Ocean Mental Health Services, 712 E. Bay Avenue, Manahawkin
- Lakewood Twp. Police Department: Tuesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Turning Point, 101 Prospect Street, Lakewood
- Little Egg Harbor Police Department: Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Ocean Mental Health Services, 712 E. Bay Avenue, Manahawkin
- Manchester Twp. Police Department: Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Integrity House, 310 Main St. Toms River
- Ocean Gate Police Department: Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Ocean Mental Health Services, 36 W. Water Street, Toms River
- Ocean Township Police Department: Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Ocean Mental Health Services, 712 E. Bay Avenue, Manahawkin
- Pine Beach Police Department: Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Ocean Mental Health Services, 36 W. Water Street, Toms River
- Point Pleasant Borough: Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Preferred Behavioral Health, 700 Airport Road, Lakewood
- South Toms River Police Department: Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; 19 Double Trouble Rd. South Toms River
- Stafford Township Police Department: Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Ocean Mental Health Services, 712 E. Bay Avenue, Manahawkin
- Surf City Township Police Department: Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Ocean Mental Health Services, 712 E. Bay Avenue, Manahawkin
- Toms River Police Department: Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Ocean Mental Health Services, 36 W. Water Street, Toms River
“I am proud that approximately half of all of our local police departments will be Blue HOPE police Departments. I am hopeful to have every police department in Ocean County will participate in Blue HOPE by the end of 2021,” Billhimer said.
Blue HART began during the leadership of Joseph Coronato. When his five-year appointment as prosecutor was up, he told this newspaper that Blue HART was what he was most proud of and he hoped it would continue in his absence.
