PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The guiding principle of NCAAR’s Public Affairs Unit is to promote an integrated public health approach to Substance Use Disorder (SUD), mental health, and domestic violence.

For over 40 years, the NCAAR Public Affairs Unit has been committed to the developing and advocating for legislation that supports long-term recovery from SUD and mental health concerns. We work in partnership with elected officials at both the state and national levels to promote policies that improve and expand access to quality prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives.

These efforts stand in stark contrast to the punitive legacy of the 50-year War on Drugs which fueled mass incarceration, deepened racial and socioeconomic inequities, and prioritized punishment over healing. NCAAR’s policy agenda emphasizes holistic health, community and family-based wellness initiatives, and the creation of recovery-oriented systems that improve outcomes and reduce costs. 

The Public Affairs Unit works in partnership with our  Advocacy Leadership Program and other organizations to advance NCAAR’s mission of advocating with, and on behalf of, individuals, families, and communities impacted by addiction. 

CENTRAL TENANTS

At the heart of NCAAR’s mission is a fundamental belief: every individual deserves dignity, compassionate care, and the opportunity to achieve wellness. Our advocacy is rooted in empathy and driven by a commitment to treating substance use as a public health issue; eliminating stigma, and its collateral consequences; and building a Recovery-Oriented System of Care that supports long-term recovery and community well-being.

PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH

NCAAR’s public policy platform is built on the understanding that substance use is a public health issue, rooted in complex social, economic, and medical factors. We believe substance use should be addressed with compassion and evidence-based care, not stigma and punishment. By championing policies that treat substance use as a health issue, we help build communities where healing is possible, support is available, and every life has value.

ELIMINATING STIGMA

Stigma associated with substance use is the greatest barrier to people receiving the support and care they need. NCAAR’s Public Affairs team works to shift the conversation from blame to belonging, advocating for laws and programs that uplift, protect, and empower. We challenge stigma at every level of policymaking by promoting evidence-based approaches that replace punishment with support, discrimination with understanding, and misconception with truth.

ROSC

A Recovery-Oriented System of Care brings multiple systems together across the health and human services spectrum to foster hope, self-directed growth, and long-term stability. It emphasizes the foundational elements essential to sustained recovery: access to employment, education, housing, family and social supports, childcare, transportation, and other social services. A ROSC moves beyond the traditional acute-care model, which focuses on symptom reduction to encourage a full and meaningful integration into community life.

CANDIDATE SURVEY

GENERAL ELECTION DAY IS
NOVEMBER 4, 2025

Every election year, NCAAR develops a survey for candidates running for the New Jersey legislature, providing them with an opportunity to share their positions on critical issues related to substance use and mental health (using input from many of you). With seats up for election in both the Assembly and the Governor’s office, we sent out over 150 surveys this year asking candidates to outline their priorities on critical issues, such as opioid settlement funding, and access to care for individuals with substance use disorder. 

As we receive responses, they are made available on our website, so be sure to check back here. 

Early voting will be available. Please visit the New Jersey
Voter Information Portal for voter resources.

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