TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Ocean County Board of Commissioners recently endorsed the Ocean County Opioid Advisory Council's (OCOAC) 2027-2029 plan, which serves as a framework for continued collaboration and community-focused efforts addressing opioid prevention, treatment, recovery, and overdose prevention throughout Ocean County, funded through national opioid settlement funds.

Through an extensive community-focused research process, the OCOAC identified several priority areas for the next three years, including public awareness, treatment and recovery services, harm reduction, peer support, and reducing barriers to service access for individuals and families affected by opioid use.

"Direct community input was an incredibly important part of the planning process," Ocean County Commissioner Sam Ellenbogen said, liaison to the Ocean County Opioid Advisory Council. "Paired with other available data, community feedback informed action steps for the appropriate use of national opioid settlement funds and helped to identify service gaps so we can strengthen the system of care."

As Ocean County implements the 2027-2029 Opioid Advisory Council Plan, competitive contracts will be available for programs that address community needs and priorities.

Programs funded in the previous cycle have already reached thousands of residents in Ocean County. More than 5,000 Narcan and harm reduction kits have been distributed, and over 125 businesses have joined opioid prevention and treatment initiatives. Additionally, 2,000 students have received drug prevention education, while over 780 people have gained access to treatment and supportive services. Outreach efforts have also resulted in more than 8,000 contacts to community partners, providing information and referrals.

Interested organizations and providers are encouraged to monitor the Ocean County Procurement Portal for upcoming solicitations, at procurement.opengov.com/portal/oceancounty. Interested parties may also register with OpenGov to receive alerts regarding Ocean County solicitations and procurement opportunities.

"Ocean County is committed to using these funds responsibly to enhance programs and services for all of our residents and families effected by substance use disorder," Ellenbogen said.

The OCOAC, established in 2022, provides recommendations to the County and participating municipalities regarding the allocation of national opioid settlement funds from major opioid supply chain companies, which are distributed to support local efforts for opioid crisis prevention.