N.J. Bill Aims To Help Drug Addicts Recover Without Jail Time

West Orange, NJ – New Jersey residents struggling with drug addictions may soon be able to turn in their narcotics and seek help without fear of jail time if a new bill passes muster.

If approved, the potential state law would allow local police departments to create programs that make it possible for drug users to surrender their illegal substances without fear of arrest.

The bill – A3744 in the Assembly and S2330 in the Senate – reads:

“New Jersey's overdose death rate is currently more than three times the national rate, and overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the state… Increasing access to treatment without fear of arrest or law enforcement action is essential to persuade those who suffer from addiction to receive the treatment they need… The establishment of law enforcement assisted addiction and recovery programs would provide additional support necessary to assist many of those who need treatment by encouraging those suffering from heroin and opioid addiction to seek recovery; helping to distribute life-saving drugs to prevent and treat overdoses; and connecting people suffering from heroin and opioid addiction with treatment programs and facilities.”

Under the proposed law, individuals in possession of a controlled dangerous substance or drug paraphernalia wouldn’t be criminally charged if they turn in these materials to local law enforcement.

Officers wouldn’t be allowed to question the drug user about where they got the CDS, or “take any other action which may discourage individuals from seeking to participate in the program without fear of arrest.”

The drug user would then be matched with a police-vetted volunteer who would provide emotional support and guidance to the individual, explore treatment options and attempt to identify a program or facility which can assist the individual.

The assembly version of the bill is up for a full vote on Monday, but the potential legislation would still have to pass scrutiny from the state Senate and Governor Chris Christie.

The concept of swapping jail time for treatment options was recently championed by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (NJ), who identified himself as “a vocal advocate for both addressing the opioid abuse and heroin use epidemic and advancing criminal justice reform.”

Booker spoke on the Senate floor earlier this week to bring attention to “the harmful impact” that a new amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (Senate Amendment 4083) may cause for people struggling with addictions to fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that the DEA states is 100 times more potent than morphine.

WEST ORANGE’S ANGELS

A case example of what such a program might look like can be seen in West Orange.

On June 14, the West Orange Township Council passed a resolution in support of Operation HOPE, a voluntary program to be run by the municipal police department that will let local drug abusers turn in heroin, opiates, needles or other paraphernalia without fear of arrest.

Participating drug users will then be paired with a volunteer the program is calling an “angel,” who will help guide them through the recovery process.

“We’re trying to help people rather than incarcerate them for something that is somewhat outside their control," West Orange Police Chief James Abbott told NJ.com, adding that the war on drugs was "kind of a failed effort."

“Since 2015, the West Orange Police Department has made 54 opiate-related arrests within the Township of West Orange,” Township Attorney Richard Trenk said during the June 14 meeting.

“Five years from now, when programs like this are running across the state, you’ll remember this day,” said Marc Ackerman, the director of admissions from Integrity House, a local substance abuse center that is partnering with West Orange police for the program.

The West Orange “angels” would undergo a review of their criminal history and probation status prior to being accepted as volunteers, police stated.

Learn more about how to volunteer for the West Orange program here.

• See related article: Time to Reform Federal Drug Sentencing
• See related article: 20 NJ Towns With The Most Heroin And Opiate Abuse

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File Photo: Flickr Commons, Vito Fun