New Addiction Recovery Service To Launch In Burlington County

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Burlington County will launch a new initiative to improve access to addiction treatment and other community services that can assist residents in recovery, according to officials.

“The coronavirus pandemic is not the only health crisis impacting Burlington County. We cannot forget that addiction is also claiming the lives of our friends, neighbors and loved ones at an alarming rate,” Burlington County Board Director Felicia Hopson said about the launch of the county’s new Recovery Center.

Individuals can obtain peer support and information about treatment programs, recovery support services and community resources at the new center, according to officials.

The Recovery Center will also have space for other wellness activities and classes on subjects like nutrition, anger management, relaxation and meditation and resume writing, and a meeting room for groups like Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous to use.

“There are real people who will benefit greatly from a program like this. It’s why I’m so proud we’re launching this initiative,” Hopson said.

The initiative will kick off with a news conference on Tuesday at the Burlington County Human Services Building, 795 Woodlane Road, Westampton., officials said.

Hopson will join Board Deputy Director Tom Pullion, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina, Department of Human Services officials, representatives from provider Prevention Is Key and a peer recovery coach.

The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office already has three initiatives aimed at combating the opioid epidemic.

Operation Helping Hand is focused on defendants charged with nonviolent offenses in municipal court. Eligible defendants must be referred by a police officer from the City of Burlington or Burlington Township police departments, or by the municipal prosecutor who prosecutes cases in the joint municipal court.

Operation Safe Overnight focuses on saving lives and increasing enforcement activity at hotels and motels that have experienced overdoses and drug-related criminal activity. Through this program, with the support of Virtua Health, the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office has provided Narcan to county hotels and has also trained hotel employees how to use it to reverse an overdose and save a person's life.

Straight … to Treatment is a program that allows people to walk off the street and into police stations in three municipalities to seek treatment for drug addiction, regardless of whether they are insured or live in Burlington County.