46 And Counting: HARP Helping Heroin Addicts Into Treatment In Brick, Manchester, Authorities Say

BRICK, NJ — When the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and the Brick and Manchester township police departments announced the rollout of its latest effort in the battle against heroin a month ago, there was — as there so often is — a mixed response.

Amid positive responses from those who viewed HARP — HARP stands for Heroin Addiction Response Program — as a way to get people into treatment, there were a lot of naysayers.

"The phrase 'turn themselves in' will make it ineffective," a Patch reader wrote. "Junkies tend to be paranoid (about 100% of the time), so no addict will go to a program offered by law enforcement."

"Remember the War on Drugs when Reagan was in office, that was a failure, and this will be a failure too! Any lawyer would tell you to never speak to the police or let alone volunteer for consent," another wrote.

Brick Township Police Chief James Riccio and Manchester Township Police Chief Lisa Parker disagree: More than 46 people have gone to the police departments for help in the first month.

"So far more than 30 people have been placed into the (HARP) program and are being treated," Riccio said Wednesday. Manchester police say 16 people have entered the HARP program through their department.

On Wednesdays in Manchester and Thursdays in Brick, any Ocean County resident seeking treatment for heroin addiction can go into the police department to ask for help. The person is evaluated and placed into a treatment program, regardless of whether they are insured, officials said.

The program is run in cooperation with Preferred Behavioral Health in Lakewood and Integrity House in Toms River, and includes not only evaluation but assistance in getting treatment. The services are covered via grant funding.

Riccio said anyone seeking help can come to the Brick police department between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Thursdays.

"We urge any person who is serious about getting help for their addiction to take advantage of this program," Riccio said.

Patch file photo