Advocacy is at the heart of our Mission

Since inception, NCAAR (formerly the New Jersey chapter of the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) has led advocacy efforts to reduce the stigma associated with addiction and mental health. By educating the public and policy makers about addiction as a public health issue, we are working to advance policy solutions to improve the quality and access to treatment and recovery services and to foster the implementation of a full recovery-oriented system of care in New Jersey.

Grassroots Advocacy

In 2008, our advocacy efforts launched a new groundbreaking initiative, the Advocacy Leadership Program. Since then, the program has flourished with over 1,000 volunteers throughout the State of New Jersey, bringing together people in recovery, their families, friends, and allies. Our advocates have testified at countless hearings, organized events in their communities to raise awareness about recovery, participated in legislative visits and letter writing campaigns—all in a grassroots effort to save and change lives. Their stories have become the guiding force for positive policy change in vital areas such as early intervention, harm reduction, and criminal justice reform.

The passionate efforts of our advocates have led to some of these key legislative wins in New Jersey:

  • Behavioral health parity
  • Ending patient brokering
  • Improving access to Naloxone and medication-assisted treatment services
  • Decriminalization of Marijuana

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FINDER

Learn who the representatives are in your district.

ADVOCACY LEADERSHIP

NCAAR’s Advocacy Leadership Program is a statewide volunteer constituency designed to foster, support, and mobilize generations of leaders around the substance use disorder, mental health, and domestic violence topics they are most passionate about.

ADVOCATE SPOTLIGHT

Each quarter, an NCAAR advocate shares their story and highlights how their journey inspired them to take action and advocate for themselves, other individuals, and communities impacted by substance use disorder, mental health, and domestic violence.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

NCAAR’s Road to Recovery Campaign is a grassroots effort which identifies and highlights legislation impacting substance use disorder, mental health, and domestic violence in New Jersey to advocate and educate policy makers on life-saving intervention policies.

MEMORIAL WALL

We all know someone who was taken from this world too early by substance use disorder and/or untreated mental health.  NCAAR has created a space where you can honor your loved one by sharing their story to our memorial wall.

POSTCARD CAMPAIGN

NCAAR’s Our Stories Have Power Postcard Campaign is designed to promote recovery through personal storytelling and call attention to current legislation impacting substance use disorder, mental health, and domestic violence.

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