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By Victoria Ford
Good news for those who care about mental, physical and spiritual well-being: Sea Change Recovery Community Organization has teamed up with Bright Harbor Healthcare to bring helpful services to those who need them in the Southern Ocean County area.
“Stop by and discover more about harm reduction and peer recovery support,” Sea Change invites. “We’re here to assist you if you need referrals for primary care, behavioral health or social services. Plus ‘Winnie’ (the Winnebago) will be filled with food and essential supplies for anyone who could use a little extra help.”
Mobile outreach happens in different locations on four Fridays each month, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
First Friday, Winnie will be on the parking lot of the Lighthouse Alliance Church and thrift shop in Tuckerton, at 445 Route 9. Second Friday, at the county’s Southern Service Center at 179 South Main St. (Route 9) in Manahawkin. Third Friday, at 200 Mathistown Rd. in Little Egg Harbor, in the Dollar Tree parking lot. Fourth Friday, at 360 North Main St. in Barnegat, near the food pantry and gazebo next to East Bay Avenue.
For more information, call or text 609-618-0360 or 609-241-2630.
To anyone looking to solve problems related to substance use disorder, Sea Change also offers free harm reduction and recovery support, in person and virtually. N.J. certified peer recovery specialists provide coaching and one-to-one support to individuals and caregivers, care management and recovery skill building. All-recovery support groups are held seven days a week. “All recovery” means “meetings are judgment-free, and all pathways of recovery are embraced.” The meetings are an alternative or supplement to other programs, such as 12-step and abstinence-only groups.
“We say this explicitly because the typical narrative mistakenly places harm reduction in opposition to abstinence, which is inaccurate,” according to Sea Change. “If you are abstinent from drugs and/or alcohol, you are welcome here. If you are using MAT (medication assisted treatment) or other drugs, you are welcome here. If you are practicing moderation, you are welcome here.”
The RCO office is a resource for harm reduction and overdose prevention supplies: naloxone (Narcan), fentanyl and xylazine test strips; sterile supplies such as syringes, cookers, alcohol pads, cottons and tourniquets; safer smoking supplies such as bubble or stem pipes; injection-alternative supplies; safer sex supplies such as condoms and Plan B; sharps containers, wound care kits; hygiene kits; and weather kits.
Special events and activities, such as reiki, yoga, crossfit, surfing, nature walks, etc., connect people with similar lived experience. Training is also available.
All services are free. Reach out by phone or through the opens in a new windowwebsite, opens in a new windowseachangerco.org, or email opens in a new window[email protected].
Meanwhile, the “Not One More” campaign continues its mission to end overdose. The campaign’s three-pronged belief system is 1) people who use drugs and struggle with addiction have a right to access healthcare that is evidence-based and affordable, empowers them to live healthier lives, and meets them where they are; 2) transparency, accountability and oversight – as well as dignity and compassion – are essential regarding addiction treatment, recovery houses and drug courts receiving state and federal funding; and 3) key principles are community leadership, meeting people where they are, and not leaving anyone behind.
Join Sea Change and the New Jersey Organizing Project for a monthly online community organizing meeting where newcomers are always welcome. “Together, we build power to create health equity and dignity for all those negatively impacted by substance use and stigma,” according to the activists. The next one is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. Register at opens in a new windownjorganizing.us/notonemorenjmtg. Learn more at opens in a new windownewjerseyop.org/ending-overdose/.
Since its inception in 2021, Sea Change has gained over 500 members and support from the N.J. Department of Health, Ocean County Department of Human Services, Rx Foundation and Manasquan Bank Foundation.