Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
The New Jersey State Police (NJSP) Office of the Drug Monitoring Initiative (ODMA) gathers intelligence on the illicit drug environment through multidisciplined datasets and can recognize evolving threats, impacts from drug activity, and potentially at-risk persons, populations, and areas. To bring data to action and assist those in need, NJSP developed Operation RISE in 2021, a unique law-enforcement led outreach pilot program under the leadership of the Attorney General of New Jersey. Operation RISE (Recovery, Initiative, Support and Engagement) is a wide-ranging collaborative approach to reducing community drug harm. This proactive initiative employs an evidence-based approach, using data analysis and the science of peer recovery professionals, to conduct strategic and targeted outreach. These efforts will provide linkage to the appropriate level of care for individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder (SUD), reduce recidivism rates of crime associated with drug use, and reduce the stigma associated with the disease of addiction. Operation RISE is currently a proposed pilot program in the southern six counties of New Jersey and NJSP requires grant assistance to expand statewide. Operation RISE utilizes a multifaceted approach. First, it uses Trooper participation. Troopers will be trained on how to identify and be an intervention point for individuals with SUD and how to leverage the resources of Operation RISE to provide outreach. Referrals will be made to NJSP employed RISE advocates. Advocates will assess the current stage of addiction and determine the appropriate level-of-care needed, provide a connection to appropriate care services, and ultimately, establish a conduit of continual support and communication throughout the recovery process. Troopers assigned to the ODMA unit will conduct outreach training programs for law enforcement, other first responder professionals and stakeholder agencies. In addition, ODMA will distribute Naloxone and recovery resources to all barracks, so all troopers have immediate access to this life saving medication while on patrol. Supplies should also allow for distribution to local jurisdictions experiencing financial hardship. Secondly, RISE advocates will proactively engage individuals in need. They will conduct overdose follow-up in a coordinated effort to align with naloxone administrations. Targeted “hot spot” intelligence in urban, suburban, and rural areas allows for specified, coordinated outreach operations for individuals who are most at risk. RISE advocates will also conduct court diversion in jurisdictions with increased levels of drug arrests. Lastly, advocates will provide community outreach in drug demand areas through community education forums. This outreach will provide awareness of the current drug environment, education on treatment options and increase the availability of naloxone to the community. Additionally, Operation RISE will coordinate with already existing law enforcement-led outreach efforts under the Office of the Attorney General to best deploy resources to areas of need. During the grant period, we expect to have the following unduplicated individuals served: Year 1 – 208, Year 2 – 411, Year 3 – 625 and Year 4 – 625 (1869 total individuals over 4 years). If successful, we anticipate there will be a reduction of naloxone administrations by first responders, a reduction in drug-related overdose deaths, and an increase in treatment admissions. Reversing increasing negative illicit drug trends is our priority.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
