How N.J. town turned hurt to hope on Overdose Awareness Day

In-court addiction counseling has been so effective, Gloucester Township is expanding it.

GLOUCESTER TWP. -- The charges against you still stick but for those who've taken Gloucester Township up on a first-of-its-kind drug and alcohol municipal court counselor, the only thing better than turning your life around is probably saving it in the process.

Touting an 82 percent engagement rate over the past two years in Project SAVE (Substance Abuse Visionary Effort), officials here used International Overdose Awareness Day to announce the expansion of the program from the courtroom to police headquarters.

"It is well-known that a person suffering from addiction will likely feel desperation at the time of arrest and it is at this important time of first contact that a relationship be established with a SAVE advocate," Gloucester Township Police Department Chief Harry Earle said Wednesday.

With that in heart and mind, township officials said setting up the person arrested on disorderly or petty offenses with a SAVE advocate -- before they make a first appearance in court sometimes weeks or months later -- is crucial when combating recidivism.

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Municipal prosecutor Dan Long sees people facing a maximum of six months in prison on possession charges, for example, seven times a month during court sessions. It's often an "eye-opening experience" for many, he said.

"It offers a chance to save lives and turn lives around," Long said of the voluntary and confidential Project SAVE that's free to those who opt in.

Of the 158 people SAVE offered services to, 131 participated. Of those 131, 24 fully completed the in-patient or out-patient programs recommended to them. Of those 24 people, 17 have remained arrest-free since completing the program.

In testimonials presented Wednesday from those who've been booked by Gloucester Township police, three people explained how they've gone from abusing drugs to completely turning their lives around.

"This not only helps reduce crime, but also significantly reduce costs associated with incarceration and the losses incurred by potential victims of crime," Earle said, adding that officers "regularly" provide information while on patrol and walk-ins to police headquarters under this expanded effort are more than welcome.

Gloucester Township police hope the new aspect to Project SAVE will also tie in family and friends of the person arrested so bonds with advocates start forming as soon as possible.

"We well understand that that arrest alone will not stop crime so we continually develop programs that wok to break the social disorder that causes crime through initiatives beyond arrest," Earle said.