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Acting
Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco announced today that a new statewide
program is offering substance abuse counseling telephone hotline
services at 1-800-238-2333 - for New Jersey residents who were affected
by the events of September 11th.
"The
September 11th tragedy affected everyone differently and everyone
is coping differently," said DiFrancesco. "There is experience
showing that drug and alcohol abuse increases after large scale
disasters. This new program can provide professional and confidential
help for those that need it."
The
program, "World Trade Center:
New Jersey Recovers," offers substance abuse counseling
services to family members of someone lost to the Sept. 11th event;
survivors of the WTC collapse; people who witnessed the attack or
collapse in person.; rescuers, police, firefighters or constructions
workers who assisted in the recovery efforts at the WTC; and persons
who lost a job at the WTC area.
Any
one who would like to use the services can call the toll-free telephone
number to speak with a counselor or arrange for a person-to-person
visit. Counselors are located in areas covering Monmouth, Mercer,
Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Morris, Essex, Passaic, Hudson and Bergen
counties.
The
telephone hotline is open 24 hours a day and offers bilingual services
for people who speak Spanish. Counselors and staff are provided
by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services through
a $1.6 million grant from the federal Department of Health and Human
Services.
"These
services are not only for people who have increased substance abuse
after Sept. 11, but also who were trying to quit and have slid back
since the World Trade Center attack," said acting Health and
Senior Services Commissioner George T. DiFerdinando, MD. "The
Department's counselors can provide many types of help-they can
talk people through a stressful time; make referrals for people
who need additional help or simply offer a calm and friendly voice."
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