The Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council of Ocean (ADACO) encourages primary prevention, early intervention and effective treatment of alcoholism and other drug addictions. It also identifies areas of need and important issues in the community, while providing quality programs and promotional activities that raise public understanding and recognition of addiction.

We operate from the premise that alcoholism and other addictions and related problems are preventable, identifiable and treatable. In addition to acting as a public advocate and source of information and education, ADACO provides consultation and treatment referral services for those directly affected by, or involved with, individuals experiencing problems related to alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse and other addictive behaviors.

Bilingual Services Available

ADACO brings the following NJPN programs to Ocean County:

 Beginning Alcohol and Addictions Basic Education Studies (BABES)
BABES is a nationally-recognized primary prevention program that teaches important life skills and provides accurate, non-judgmental information about the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs to children between the ages of five and nine. Research suggests that effective prevention should be focused on building resiliency and reducing risk. The BABES program accomplishes this through the use of stories and seven life-like puppet characters. Each lesson focuses on a particular concept and skill, which the children learn and practice with the help of a trained professional.

Community Partnership for Tobacco Prevention
Funded by the N.J. Dept. of Health and Senior Services Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program, this program provides health education programs, raises awareness about New Jersey’s Smoke-free Air Act and works to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke among all New Jersey residents.

Employee Consultant Services
ADACO is an experienced provider of services to employers in both the private and public sectors. Specific training programs include reasonable suspicion training for supervisors, drug-free workplace regulations, workplace prevention, understanding substance abuse and addiction and smoke-free workplaces. Services include assistance with policy development, supervisory training, employee education and assessment/referral services. ADACO provides confidential assessments and referrals to treatment.

Forest Friends
Forest Friends is an asset-building program designed to develop and reinforce resiliency skills in children ages five through nine. In this engaging program, children learn about dealing with feelings and how to communicate effectively, how to make good and healthy decisions, the importance of truth and trust to develop healthy relationships, and effective coping skills to deal with difficult life situations. Lovable puppets are the characters who take center stage as they learn how to deal emotionally and psychologically with life-like situations.

Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC)
16-week Program
This program is mandatory for anyone convicted of driving under the influence in New Jersey. Program topics include consequences of drinking and driving, laws relating to driving while intoxicated, the nature of addiction and how self-help groups assist in recovery.

Ocean County Prevention and Education Resource Project
The Prevention and Education Resource Project is funded by a grant from the Ocean County Health Department and enables ADACO to educate youth, parents, school staff and others on substance abuse prevention concepts and trends. We design and deliver programs for schools, parents, youth and other special populations.

Reaching Everyone By Exposing Lies (REBEL)
A youth-driven tobacco control movement designed to prevent and reduce the spread of tobacco use among adolescents and other community members.

Southern Ocean County Coalition Against Drug Abuse
The mission of the coalition is to reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among youth and other community members of southern Ocean County. The coalition seeks to enhance the quality and effectiveness of prevention programs and activities. Assessing the needs of the area and linking the Municipal Alliances Against Substance Abuse with other prevention agencies will achieve this. This will facilitate a more coordinated effort, share resources, increase participation and decrease duplication of programming.

Strengthening Families Program
The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is designed specifically for parents and youth, ages 10 to 14. SFP has been scientifically evaluated and shown to be effective. It is recognized by four federal agencies, including the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) as an approved “science-based” prevention program. The program is designed for ethnically diverse families in rural and urban settings and consists of seven sessions, each two hours in length. Each session offers a family meal followed by separate parent and youth groups, as well as a combined family activity.