Addiction and Disorder Specialists Plans to Offer Support Services and Education in Matawan

Three men are working to bring free drug awareness education and addiction services to residents of Matawan and Aberdeen.

Earlier this year, Freddy "Ben" Benjamin, Abdur Azim, and David Cooper started Addiction, Behavioral, and Disorder Specialists (ABDS) Associates LLC, a health care service designed to provide integrated care to those struggling with addiction, behavioral health issues and disorders.

The ABDS office is located in Eatontown, but they have designed a free program consisting of regular meetings at the as a way to give back to the community.

"We're trying to bring awareness to issues of addiction and substance abuse. We want to provide education to both Aberdeen and Matawan, to the family members or the individual," said Benjamin, a Matawan resident and a volunteer member of the Matawan Borough Fire Department.

"It breaks down the moral fibers of the community if you don't address problems like this," said Azim.

Their goal is to cover a variety of topics, from knowing the signs of addiction and preventing drug abuse to consultative services and referrals for treatment. The privacy of attendees will be respected, they said, and all Matawan and Aberdeen residents, whether they are seeking information and education or are in need of help, are welcome.

"It's important to provide a service like this for the people of Matawan and Aberdeen because they may not be aware of the extent of the problem. They may think that it's going on with other people and may not be aware that it is going on in their own homes," Cooper said.

"It's more prevalent than a lot of families think. Sometimes there are a lot of signs, but they may not recognize them," Azim added.

They hope to also guide those who wish to seek help for their addiction, but do not know how.

"When somebody decides to get help and the family wants to get them help, nobody tells them what needs to be done. We're also preparing people for that, so they can at least know where to go," Benjamin said.

Assisting people with addiction, behavioral health and mental illness is nothing new to Benjamin, Azim and Cooper. All three come from backgrounds in the mental health or criminal justice system in Monmouth County with a focus on mental illness and drug addiction. They have been coworkers in the past, and finally decided to start their own service.

"We provide comprehensive services for residents of Monmouth County that have a severe, persistent mental illness with substance abuse," said Cooper. Azim also works with youths at-risk or involved in gang activity.

ABDS is awaiting final approval from the Matawan Borough Recreation Department, who oversees building use. The first meeting is tentatively scheduled for the evening of June 7 and will focus on identifying and understanding the signs of drug addiction.

Privacy will be respected. Attendants are asked to preregister by contacting ABDS at 732-939-1802 or abdsassociates@gmail.com for planning purposes.