Earlier this week, we reported on the declining numbers of opioid overdose deaths, both nationally and here in new Jersey.

Many public health experts attribute that progress to the growth of community based programs using overdose antidotes like naloxone and the expansion of medication assisted treatment or Mat services.

The use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders.

Well, this week, a nonprofit community health center in Sussex County announced it's increasing that services for patients with drug addiction with the help of a $300,000 grant.

Raven Santana visited Zufall Health to see how the team is putting that money to use.

And they picked up on a lot of things the hospital missed.

50 year old Donovan Hornick of Sussex County, says after struggling with a heroin addiction for some 20 years, he now has not used drugs for two months and credits Zufall.

Health and just the way he talked to me, like a human being, you know, it was really important.

A lot of doctors don't do that.

Hornbeck says the nonprofit, which provides primary care and supportive services to low income residents across the state, was able to prescribe him medically assisted treatment or Matt.

Matt uses medications to normalize brain chemistry and body functions, block the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids, and lessens cravings to help people maintain recovery from suds.

You know, as soon as I took it, I almost felt normal, you know?

And I was like, wow, I haven't felt like this in a long time without using drugs.

Hornick was one of a handful of people who spoke at New Falls location in Newton to kick off the expansion of its Mat services in seven different counties.

The expansion was made possible by a $300,000, two year grant through Bristol-Myers Squibb New Jersey Safety Net innovation program that started last year, and the impetus behind that program is in harmony with BMS mission.

Our mission at the Foundation is for everyone to have access to quality health care, regardless of who you are, where you live.

XFL's president and CEO Fran Palm, says the grant is being used and distributed to support the clinics providers who can prescribe Mat in all of its locations.

She says the goal is for someone who may be receiving a check up to also feel comfortable talking to a doctor about their addiction.

It was the first offer services in seven counties in new Jersey in Morris, Essex, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Somerset and Middlesex.

So we were able to hire our, medication assisted treatment coordinator.

We were able to add on the addiction specialists and their work will be in supporting our other primary care providers and getting them to be comfortable.

And supported in their, addition of a substance use disorder in their practice.

If we don't increase the number of primary care providers that are caring for folks with substance use disorders, we will never take care of all the problem.

We can't meet the need.

Doctor Michael Gannon is the addiction medicine physician tasked with training and consult primary care providers at all the zoo fall sites with how to treat patients with substance use disorders, specifically opioid use.

Folks are getting treatment for the behavioral aspects of their care in one place.

The medical aspects of their disease, are treated by somebody like myself or by a primary care provider who is comfortable treating that.

Folks see that folks that struggle with opioid use disorder are just like everybody else, just like all their other patients.

Then that breaks down the stigma itself.

Doctor Gannon says they now hope to expand the program to be able to serve more patients in more locations.

He encourages anyone struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, with or without insurance, to make an appointment at one of Zufall.

locations.

For NJ Spotlight News I'm Raven Santana.

Support for the medical report is provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.