Mission Statement
It is well-established that drug use and addiction is a major problem that impacts all of us on multiple levels; individuals, families and communities bear the many ill-effects that it has on our safety, health and the economy. The alarming reality of the heroin/opiate epidemic, in particular, has created an urgent need to work together to reverse these trends.
We also recognize that for any anti-drug program to be effective, strong enforcement must be supported by an effort to reduce the demand for illegal substances and this is best accomplished through continued prevention education along with improved access to treatment and recovery support.
The mission of the Sussex County C.L.E.A.R. program is to form a collaborative network of professionals in our community who will facilitate medical intervention, improved access to treatment and recovery support for those struggling with drug addiction who seek assistance, without fear of arrest or prosecution, in order to make a positive difference in the quality of life for individuals, families and our entire community.
The Reality
One in three people are affected by substance use disorders. The disease of addiction affects all people- no matter their occupation, income level, race or community status. Our communities are in the midst of a substance use epidemic.
A group of key stakeholders have been proactively organizing a collaborative partnership between community entities that are serving to provide real solutions to this current health crisis. Treating addiction increases community health by leaps and bounds. Whether you are a person with a substance use disorder or the loved one of someone with this disease, we are offering the real understanding that recovery options are available.
Operation Helping Hand
Operation Helping Hand is a grant funded program for counties in New Jersey to establish, expand, or adapt programs in which law enforcement officers play an active role in connecting individuals suffering from opioid addiction with vital treatment, recovery and/or support services. Operation Helping Hand was initially developed by NJ Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal while serving as Bergen County Prosecutor.
Sussex County’s Operation Helping Hand is implemented through the C.L.E.A.R. Program–led by the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office in coordination with the Sussex County Association of Chiefs of Police and Center for Prevention & Counseling
Utilizing a proactive outreach approach, participating police departments use law enforcement data to identify individuals and areas that are at risk and send C.L.E.A.R. Program representatives comprising teams of law enforcement officers and recovery coaches to disseminate information about available recovery services and engage individuals.
Operation Helping Hand initiatives in Sussex County include referring individuals to CLEAR following an arrest, outreaching to individuals that have overdosed, providing on-site information at municipal courts and meeting with community members throughout the county with a mobile unit.