The Camden County Board of Commissioners recently joined staff from the county prosecutor’s office and the Office of Mental Health and Addiction, along with local officials and the community to discuss the continued success of Project SAVE, a transformative program that seeks to address the opioid crisis.
The program is aimed at reducing substance use-related recidivism by shifting the focus of police efforts and practices beyond an initial arrest. This year, Project SAVE expanded further by adding mental-health navigators to the program, and surpassed 10,000 referrals for treatment last month.
“Project SAVE has become a model for communities across the state and the region because of how effective it has shown to be,” said Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr., who spearheaded creation of the Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force. “We are meeting people where they are and helping them heal instead of just punishing them for low-level offenses that were directly related to substance use disorder.
“Rehabilitation is a key component to fixing the opioid crisis,” he added, “and this program has provided a chance for residents suffering with substance-use issues to take control of their lives again while working through the legal system.”
Project SAVE focuses on diversion at the municipal-court level and helps clients navigate obstacles to treatment. Non-violent offenders who enter the municipal court system are given the opportunity to connect with a licensed social services professional who can refer and connect them to appropriate treatment resources regardless of their ability to pay.
Statistics reveal the program’s impact. County drug arrests decreased by 28% from 2019 to 2022, and since 2019, there has been a 34% decrease in overdoses of participants enrolled in the program. More than 10,000 individuals have been referred to treatment through Project SAVE. Of these referrals, 3,325 were from police and 5,931 from court staff; 885 were self-referrals.
Pioneered in Gloucester Township a decade ago, the county-wide Project SAVE was launched as a one-year pilot in 2018. Its success in that first year prompted a four-year extension. Brooklawn was one of the first municipalities in the county to adopt the program.
Camden County expanded Project SAVE last year by incorporating Mental Health Navigators, who help criminal defendants living with a mental illness. They are trained in navigating the mental-health systems of care.
“Project Save was an essential stepping-stone in my recovery journey,” said participant Felicia Buzard. “It is truly making a difference in the lives of those struggling with substance use, and I am so grateful that I was given a chance at recovery through this program.”
Anyone seeking substance-use assistance should call 1-844-ReachNJ (732-2465) for free professional support for themselves and their loved ones. If you are a Camden County resident suffering from substance abuse disorder, call the Office of Mental Health and Addiction at (856) 374-6361.
