New Jersey Health Commissioner Highlights Life-Saving Services at Asbury Park Harm Reduction Center
The visit by New Jersey's Acting Health Commissioner to the Prevention Resource Network’s Harm Reduction Center underscores the critical role of innovative services in combating the overdose crisis and connecting individuals to care.
Jeffrey Brown, Acting Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Health, recently toured the Prevention Resource Network’s Regional Harm Reduction Center in Asbury Park, showcasing the state's commitment to addressing the overdose crisis. This visit, ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day, highlighted the center's life-saving services, including a mobile harm reduction unit and a 24/7 vending machine dispensing naloxone and safer-use supplies.
With over 80,000 Americans dying from drug overdoses in 2024, the need for accessible harm reduction services has never been more urgent. The Prevention Resource Network's innovative approaches, such as the mobile unit and vending machine, have proven effective in reaching individuals outside traditional service hours, distributing essential supplies like naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdoses.
Commissioner Brown praised the center's efforts, stating, "By meeting people where they are through a fixed site, mobile unit, and 24/7 vending machine, the Prevention Resource Network is saving lives and connecting people to harm reduction care, treatment, and community support." The mobile Harm Reduction Center, approved by the NJDOH in 2023, offers naloxone, sterile syringes, and pathways to treatment and healthcare services, embodying a practical and compassionate response to the crisis.
Christopher Rinn, President & CEO of VNA Health Group, emphasized the impact of these services, noting, "Every service we provide has the chance to save a life." Shannon Preston, Executive Director of PRN, highlighted the broader public health benefits of harm reduction, including preventing the spread of HIV and hepatitis and building trust with marginalized communities.
The Prevention Resource Network's work, supported by the New Jersey Department of Health and VNA Health Group, represents a critical step forward in public health efforts to reduce overdose deaths and improve access to care for individuals who use substances. For more information on their services, visit https://prnvnacj.org/.