24-Hour Substance Abuse Hotline Set Up For Union County Locals

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Help is just a phone call away. Union County nonprofit Prevention Links and the Union County Prosecutor's Office(UCPO) teamed up to create a 24-hour hotline to help county locals with substance abuse.

A virtual presentation will be held on Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. to showcase Operation Helping Hand 24/7/365 (OHH 24/7/365) substance misuse mitigation program. Registration is free and available by clicking here.

Addiction and substance abuse has always been an issue that has only been amplified by the coronavirus pandemic. Union County has not been spared by this.

In the past five years, Union County reported more than 500 friends and neighbors have lost their lives to the opioid epidemic, according to the UCPO.

Philip Brunke and Sabrina Sabater of Scotch Plains, both work at Prevention Links, and have seen firsthand the effects of substance abuse.

Brunke joined Prevention Links at the end of January as a person in recovery. He had grown up in New York City but moved to New Jersey four years ago after getting out of rehab. He also has a background in psychology and has experience working with social service.

"The reason that gets me up and out of bed is that Gandhi saying 'Be the change you want to see in the world.'" said Brunke. "Being with Prevention Links is extremely rewarding... I want people to reach out to me rather than calling their drug dealer."

Brunke worked with a mother of two children who had gone into a "really dark place" and was using PCP. Brunke was able to help get her life back on track and work through custody cases.

"I saw a spark change in her. That's why I do the work that I do," said Brunke.

Sabater was also a person in recovery where her substance use impacted her family. She then decided to make a change and began working to help others in the same situations.

She says her own experience and education have helped to give others "needed support but also a purpose and meaning."

The biggest challenge is getting the word out about Prevention Links to the community due to the pandemic. Everything was switched to virtual and the organization was unable to have face-to-face contact with those in need.

Additionally, Brunke said there is a stigma surrounding substance use and mental health issues.

"When my family finally opened their eyes and saw how bad I actually was that's when things changed," said Brunke. "There still really is a stigma of you having a drug problem... I don't want others to look at myself as an ex-drug addict but instead, look at me as in recovery and building myself for the better."

Sabater noted that substance abuse "targets everybody and anybody of all socioeconomic backgrounds especially in Union County which is very diverse in terms of socioeconomic."

"We see people from all socioeconomics, racial backgrounds, gender, homeless to people functioning as alcoholics. People who are well off or well connected. We see a very diverse group of people," said Sabater. "Substance abuse disorder does not discriminate."

The bottom line is help is always available. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Prevention Links offers a number of programs to help Union County locals and prides itself on its confidentiality.

To learn more about Prevention Links of to volunteer visit preventionlinks.org or call the hotline at 1-855-825-3275 or Facebook or Instagram.

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