24/7/365 Recovery Services for Low-Level Opioid Offenders

Our country battles an ongoing opioid epidemic. In New Jersey, Acting Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo of Union County, has been working hard to fight the crisis by providing addiction recovery services to those who have been arrested for low-level possessory offenses. The effort in Union County is called Operation Helping Hand 24/7/365.

Operation Helping Hand started as a five-day, once-a-year event in counties across New Jersey where access to immediate and free recovery services is offered to anyone arrested for a low-level opioid offense. Earlier this year, Prosecutor Ruotolo expanded the program with the help of local nonprofit, Prevention Links, to operate year-round and 24-hours-a-day. In this episode, she shares with us how Operation Helping Hand 24/7/365  has evolved, what implications the coronavirus pandemic has on the program, and more.

LINKS:

• Lyndsay V. Ruotolo, Acting Prosecutor of Union County, NJ
• Prevention Links
• Operation Helping Hand 24/7/365 Announcement