The most difficult challenge for governments and social services agencies these days might be helping people whose lives have been hijacked by addiction or mental illness — and often both. Coordinated, evolving multiple approaches are needed, and South Jersey officials, law enforcers and care agencies have responded vigorously.
Atlantic County and Atlantic City are making an unprecedented, focused effort in partnership with the state to counter this dual scourge as part of the multilevel clean-and-safe initiative. Two more components initiated this fall should produce better outcomes for afflicted individuals and the communities they live in.
Now every day of the year an outreach van is traveling city streets, offering to immediately take substance abusers and those with mental illness to treatment. Read more from The Press of Atlantic City.