New East Windsor Program Helps Addicts On Road To Recovery

EAST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, NJ — A new program in East Windsor Township offers important resources, support, guidance, access to treatment and counseling to people battling addiction. The East Windsor C.A.R.E. (Community Addiction Recovery Effort) program is a partnership between the East Windsor Police Department and members of the local opiate task force, specifically Recovery Advocates of America and City of Angels, township officials said Monday morning. The goal is to help addicts get the treatment they need to begin the recovery process.

East Windsor police officers engage in the program whenever they encounter anyone suffering from addiction, whether it involves an arrest, an incident or an addict walking into police headquarters to ask for help. The police department will provide to the individual, on a voluntary basis, a representative from a participating recovery agency and a safe, private setting to meet and discuss pathways to begin the recovery process.

“The presence of drug abuse and addiction sadly is a reality in all of our communities, and the goal is to intervene as early as possible to provide support and professional options to these individuals to turn their lives to a more positive direction,” East Windsor Mayor Janice S. Mironov said. “This program recognizes that addiction is a disease and that key resources, guidance, and support are needed at the earliest opportunity to assure individuals of available options and assist toward a successful recovery. East Windsor C.A.R.E. makes those resources available at the most opportune time, when addicted individuals have had contact with the police department and may be most receptive to assistance in their recovery.”

“All of the members of the East Windsor Police Department are proud of the East Windsor C.A.R.E. partnership,” East Windsor Chief of Police James Geary said. “It is our goal to help as many individuals as we can and do our part to help eliminate the disease of addiction and all of the negative consequences addiction has on individuals and families.”

Patch file photo