Ocean County increases addiction treatment services

Ocean County is continuing to work towards providing addiction treatment services to those in need of help and who are trying to get clean.

Ocean County Freeholder Director Virginia Haines joined Ocean Mental Health Services (OceanMHS) Chief Executive Officer James M. Cooney and New Jersey Reentry Corporation Executive Director Jim McGreevey as the two agencies entered a partnership on July 19 that allows New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC) to refer clients to directly enroll in Ocean Mental Health Services Treatment Program.

“The partnership created today between the NJRC and Ocean Mental Health Services with the support of Freeholder Haines will ensure that persons returning from county jail or state prisons will have the benefits of Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT),” McGreevey said. “When people come home to Ocean County, it is critically necessary to provide for Medicated Assisted Treatment to reduce the cravings of addicts suffering from drug addiction.”

The agreement will guarantee that Ocean County residents will have the medicine they require to fight addiction when they return home from prison.

“With agencies working hand in hand, we can assist those men and women seeking a second chance and a better life,” Freeholder Haines said. “I commend both Ocean Mental Health Services and the New Jersey Reentry Corporation for working together on this important matter and taking this action. It will help make a difference.”

The Memorandum of Understanding will allow the NJRC to refer clients to be immediately and directly enrolled in OceanMHS’s treatment program.

The agreement will enable NJRC clients access to treatments such as Suboxone, Vivitrol, and methadone, which will help to control cravings for opioid use.

According to NJRC, OceanMHS operates as one of New Jersey’s designated Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs), which are certified by the national Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as best practice providers.

“Our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will provide life-saving MAT and other addiction treatment to our clients,” McGreevey said. “Today's agreement will guarantee that Ocean County residents will have the medicine they require to fight addiction when they return home from prison.”

The NJRC Ocean County Reentry site is located at 310 Main Street, Suite 3B, Toms River, New Jersey.

For further information regarding NJRC, please contact Ms. Josie White, LSW, at 848.238.7009 or swhite@njreentry.org.

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