Morris County Officials celebrated, on August 3, the unveiling of the newly acquired HOPE ONE vehicle, which supplements the original vehicle initially deployed in 2017.
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office operates HOPE ONE in partnership with the Morris County Department of Human Services, the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris, Family Promise of Morris County, the Center for Addiction Recovery, Education & Success (CARES), and Daytop.
The HOPE ONE vehicle and its occupants visit various locations throughout Morris County that are known to have at-risk populations, homeless individuals, and histories of drug transactions and overdose deaths, to offer immediate services to persons suffering from substance use disorder with the purpose of putting them on the road to recovery and wellness.
The vehicle is staffed by a plainclothes sheriff’s officer, a mental health clinician, and a certified peer recovery specialist to ensure that services are available for anyone who may approach the vehicle seeking treatment or information about services.
Furthermore, coupled with training for its use, NARCAN Nasal Spray, a product that may counteract the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose, is provided for free.
“Since its inception by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the HOPE ONE program has had enormous success throughout Morris County in providing aid for those suffering from substance use disorder, and the HOPE ONE vehicle plays a vital role in that success," Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp said.