CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Camden County is spending $1.2 million from a state opioid settlement to fund mental health and substance abuse programs.
In March of 2022, New Jersey entered settlements with opioid makers, including Johnson & Johnson, totaling more than $600 million. The programs benefiting from the funds will help address some of the damage caused by the ongoing opioid crisis.
County commissioner Virginia Betteridge says it’s not just one thing they are focused on, but several programs for kids, teens, adults and seniors who are struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues.
“We are taking a proactive approach to make sure that the services that are needed in the community are going to become available and easily available,” she said.
Betteridge adds all the programs and help in the world won’t make an impact if people can’t find the help they need. Part of the county’s efforts will hone in on finding people who are struggling and reach them where they are.
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Betteridge says the money will go a long way for county programs.
“We want to try to be inclusive with as many constituencies as we possibly can,” she said. “This is why we picked programs to roll out that encompass different ages and criterias.”
She says the funding will go for expanded counseling for students with behavioral issues, an outreach van for medically assisted treatment for substance abuse, enhanced case management for people recently discharged after an overdose of mental health episode, among other things.
Camden will receive an additional $30 million over the next 20 years to continue these programs and new ones.