Addiction Recovery and Support Task Force

The Catholic Bishops of New Jersey have recognized the struggles of so many members of our faith communities who struggle with addiction themselves or within their families. In pastoral concerns they recently published “How Parishes Can Be a Part of the Communities’ Journey of Recovery: A Pastoral Response to Addiction as a Spiritual Disease”. This serves as a guide for pastors and parish staffs to see how they can best help parishioners and their families deal with this disease. Through ideas about community outreach and accompaniment the resource offers many different ideas and programs that parishes can support those on the road to recovery and their families.

Addiction Treatment Referral Program
for persons suffering from acute addiction

Within 48 hours of receipt of referral, NJRC will provide linkage to and commencement of addiction treatment services to referred persons.

These services will include but are not limited to linkages for intake, the creation of a personalized long-term treatment plan, detoxification, ambulatory withdrawal management, induction on Suboxone or buprenorphine or the initiation of Vivitrol, residential treatment, intensive
outpatient treatment, and/or induction of Medication Assisted Treatment, as needed and appropriate.

Where appropriate, court-involved persons and justice-involved veterans will also be enrolled and referred to NJRC’s Orientation and additional wrap-around services, including job training and employment, mental health and medical care, transportation, and license restoration services.

To connect yourself or a loved one to addiction treatment or for any questions, please contact NJRC Chief Operating Officer Robert Carter at 732-948-5880 or rcarter@njreentry.org.

Resources

The resources here include information on various Federal, State, and County agencies, private organizations, and ministries—both Catholic and non-Catholic. Listing an agency or organization does not imply endorsement.

Diocesan-Wide Catholic Services

County Specific Services

Self-Help, Peer Support, and Consumer Self-Help Groups

Articles

Books

Training and Education Opportunities

Diocesan Parish-Based Services

ITHIRST Spiritual Companionship Ministry
Holy Family Parish
28 Brookline Avenue Nutley, NJ 07110
Phone: (973) 667-0026
holyfamilynutley.org

ITHIRST Certified Spiritual Companions
Melinda Papaccio (973) 868-1938
Catherine Vieira (201) 968-6487

The iTHIRST Initiative

Empowering the Church to be a resource for those suffering from addictions and their families.

Trinity House
1292 Long Hill Road
Stirling, NJ 07980
973-370-DRUG (3784)
IThirstInitiative.org

Keaton Douglas, Executive Director
keaton@ithirstinitiative.org

iTHIRST Spiritual Companionship Certification Training
The iTHIRST online training offered by Seton Hall seeks to provide this spiritual remedy to those suffering from addiction through the development and implementation of programs designed to educate and prevent, to provide support to treatment facilities and those incarcerated, and to develop an aftercare community for the afflicted and their families.

https://www.shu.edu/academics/ithirst-spiritual-companionship-training.cfm

Bergen County
Laurie Crocco
Bergen County Department of Health Services
Program Coordinator, Office of Alcohol & Drug Dependency
One Bergen County Plaza, 4th Floor Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: (201) 634-2744
E-mail: lcrocco@co.bergen.nj.us

Essex County
Eileen Fishman, RP
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Director
Dept. of Health & Rehabilitation 50 S. Clinton Street, Suite 4301
East Orange, NJ 07018
Phone: (973) 395-8402
E-mail: efishman@dchs.essexcountynj.org

Hudson County
Robin F. James, MA, PD (MFT), LPC
Alcohol and Drug Director
Dept. of Health & Human Services
830 Bergen Avenue, 2B Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201) 369-5280, ext. 4250
E-mail: rjames@hcnj.us

Union County
Gene Tavera
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Coordinator
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Services
Union County Department of Human Services
Division of Individual & Family Support Services
10 Elizabethtown Plaza 4th Floor
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: (908) 527-4844
E-mail: gene.tavera@ucnj.org

ITHIRST Initiative 

In addition to training, the ITHIRST Initiative offers companions to help shepherd people through the recovery process, helping them navigate the bumpy waters of recovery and helping their loved ones in the process. Helpline: 973-370-DRUG (3784)

New Jersey Self-Help Group Clearinghouse 

Information to find a support group of all kinds throughout the country and New Jersey. Ability to list/update a group and how to start a group information as well.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Web portal to U.S. government information and services on the web.

Al-Anon Family Groups 

Helps family and friends recover from the effects of someone else’s drinking through a 12step program including regular attendance at group meetings.

Cocaine Anonymous (CA) 

Recovery from crystal meth addiction through a 12-step program including regular attendance at group meetings.

Crystal Meth Anonymous 

Comprehensive information about disability programs, services, laws and benefits.

Dual Recovery Anonymous 

Recovery from joint chemical dependence & emotional/psychiatric illness through a 12step program including regular attendance at group meetings.

Marijuana Anonymous 

Recovery from marijuana addiction through a 12-step program including regular attendance at group meetings.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) 

Recovery from drug addiction through a 12-step program including regular attendance at group meetings.

Nar-Anon 

Helps family and friends of addicts recover from the effects of living with an addicted relative or friend.

SMART Recovery® 

4-Point Program® helps people recover from all types of addictive behaviors by teaching how to change self-defeating thinking, emotions, & actions.

Contact

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