New Jersey’s Multi-Disciplinary Framework: Developing Forensic Intelligence and Creating a New Culture Linking Individuals With Substance Use Disorder to Appropriate Levels of Care

New Jersey's Drug Monitoring Initiative (DMI), the leading drug environment monitoring concept, enhances public safety and public health through an in-depth knowledge that provides real-time awareness of drugs impacting New Jersey. Working intimately with statewide forensic laboratory data, integrating other key public safety and health data sets, and leveraging current technologies, processes, and analytical capabilities allows for analysis and development of forensic intelligence. This intelligence leads to: identifying emerging drugs and polydrug adulteration; supporting law enforcement investigations and identifying connected drug cases; producing significant analytical products; informing nationwide forensic laboratory partners; and providing awareness to multiple community drug harm and multi-sector outreach initiatives.

Operation Recovery Initiative Support & Engagement (RISE) is an initiative that was developed by the New Jersey State Police to use data analysis to identify potentially at-risk individuals, populations, and hotspots in conjunction with peer recovery professionals to conduct strategic and targeted outreach. These efforts provide linkage to appropriate levels of care for individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder (SUD), reduce recidivism rates of crime associated with drug use, and reduce stigma associated with addiction and the role law enforcement in a public health crisis.

Operation Helping Hand (OHH) is a statewide initiative under the Office of Attorney General's New Jersey CARES Division. NJ CARES has been providing grants supported by federal and state funding to the 21 county prosecutor’s offices to establish and/or enhance OHH programs, in which law enforcement officers play an active role in identifying individuals with SUDs and — together with community partners — serve as a point of entry for services.