Program Helping Fight Addiction Extends To Barnegat, Manahawkin

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office restructured a program that helps people fight drug addiction. The BLUE HOPE program helps people use local police departments as an entry point for services and treatment.

The Barnegat and Stafford police departments are participating and linking with Ocean Mental Health Services of NJ. Participants may access services at 712 E Bay Ave., Manahawkin from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays.

Providers and licensed agencies will perform evaluations, place phone calls and offer optional recovery face-to-face visits with licensed staff and certified recovery case managers.

BLUE HOPE is a restructured version of the Blue HART program, which was launched in 2017.

"Heroin and opioid abuse continues to remain a top priority in Ocean County," said Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. "The changes I'm announcing today with regard to BLUE HOPE will allow law enforcement and our community partners deal more effectively with this problem."

The partnership allows agencies and organizations to streamline programs for people with substance use disorder in Ocean County. Participating local police departments, such as Barnegat's and Stafford's, will continue to operate as the first point of contact for Ocean County residents in need of services, Billhimer says.

BLUE HOPE is similar to the original concept in which residents can choose to use a participating local police department to get linked to a provider or licensed agency for evaluation. Evaluation will help assess the level of care needed.

The program is not an automatic linkage to detox or inpatient services. But participants will start with connection to the appropriate level of treatment, such as detoxification, residential or outpatient care.

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