Program To Help Asbury Park Police With Addiction Cases Announced

ASBURY PARK, NJ - City officials announced on Tuesday that they have agreed to a pilot program to help the City’s police department learn how to better access treatment for those with opioid and other addictions.

The three-month pilot program will create a partnership between the Asbury Park Police Department and Preferred Behavioral Health Group’s Support Team for Addiction Recovery (STAR) Program, a state grant-funded program to help with the current opioid crisis.

“The city of Asbury Park’s Social Services Department has been working with Preferred Behavioral Health Group since it opened its offices in Monmouth County 4 years ago to provide behavioral health services to our clients,” Doug Schultz, the city’s Social Services Director, said in a statement on the city’s website.

“We are pleased to be working with them on this new pilot program with the Asbury Park Police Department. A partnership with Preferred Behavioral Health Group is an incredible benefit to our clients, especially since a few members of the STAR team live in Asbury Park and have a strong desire to make a positive impact on our community.”

Specialists from the STAR program will be contacted by the APPD when they respond to calls and find clients in need of case management, education, support, and encouragement to enter treatment for opioid or other substance abuse.

STAR specialists will be available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in-person and offer after-hours and weekend hours by phone or in-person when urgent situations arise.

“Having access to a team trained in behavioral health is an invaluable tool for the Asbury Park Police Department and for our residents,” Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said in a statement.