Harm Reduction Efforts Expanded in Morris County

County Programs Target Overdose and Substance Use Disorders

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ - The Morris County Sheriff's Office (MSCO), Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and Morris County Board of County Commissioners are working with the nonprofit Prevention is Key (PIK) in Rockaway to expand “harm reduction” efforts in the county.

These efforts are designed to combat overdoses and address substance use disorders by providing people who use drugs with life-saving tools, counseling and educational information to positively refocus their lives.

Harm reduction strategies include going into communities where drug and alcohol use is prevalent and providing people access to support, lifesaving Narcan for episodes of overdose and education to help reduce the spread of communicable diseases, reduce overdoses and decrease the stigma associated with addiction.

The Morris County harm reduction effort will include the distribution of special kits through counselors and two strategically placed vending machines. The kits will contain educational materials, instructions on how to access help and hotlines, Narcan and Narcan training guides, first aid supplies, personal hygiene products and much more.

Additionally, Sheriff James Gannon announced that, because people released from incarceration are at higher risk for overdoses and fatalities, a third vending machine will be located at the Morris County Correctional Facility as of Aug. 1 to distribute only lifesaving Narcan kits. The sheriff said distribution of the harm reduction supplies into the communities will complement the innovative community programs already launched by his office to address addiction, including Hope Wing, Hope One, Hope Hub and Community Connections, who assist individuals and families struggling with substance use and mental health disorders.

The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration contends that harm reduction incorporates a spectrum of strategies that includes safer use, managed use, abstinence, meeting people who use drugs “where they’re at,” and addressing conditions of use. Harm Reduction does not attempt to minimize or ignore the real and tragic harm and danger that can be associated with illicit drug use, but instead provides compassion and understanding to individuals who are trying to find their pathway to recovery.

PIK, a nonprofit focused on addiction and recovery, is funded by the Morris County Department of Human Services through two main sources – dollars obtained from pharmaceutical companies under national settlements of lawsuits filed over the opioid crisis and state funds appropriated for treatment planning and programs regarding alcohol and drug abuse among county residents who are indigent.

PIK was recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health as a Registered Harm Reduction Center in December 2023.