By Christina Leslie | Correspondent

At a press conference held Oct. 9 outside the East Clinton Avenue offices of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, Gov. Chris Christie announced the signing of an executive order to form an addictions task force designed to prevent drug dependence, remove the stigma of addiction and improve treatment options for those in its grips. The governor, along with former Gov. Jim McGreevey and other task force members, joined Catholic Charities executive director Marlene Lao-Collins in a tour of the facility and spoke at length with clients aided by the organization’s highly successful “Project Free” program for drug and alcohol addicted adults.

In a roundtable discussion inside the Southard Street building which houses “Project Free,” Lao-Collins introduced “three brave ladies,” clients of the program which provides intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment. Sharing their stories of addiction and ongoing recovery with the visiting dignitaries, Anita, Crystal and Kathleen related tales of how they and their families’ lives had been shattered by the use of drugs or alcohol as Governors Christie and McGreevey leaned forward and listened intently.

All three women credited the counselors and staff of Project Free for their ongoing recovery. One of the trio declared, “If it wasn’t for them, I would probably be in the ground with my husband,” while another noted, “When I am on the verge of getting high, I get on the phone with them and talk it out.”

Gov. Christie addressed the women, saying, “It is extraordinarily brave of all three of you to say this. [Project Free counselors] found a path for you… you are paying it forward. Here you can get the attention you need and the tools that you need.”

Lao-Collins added, “Our policies recognize that these are human beings, they have dignity.” Gov. McGreevey noted about his successor, “The governor is turning a huge battleship committing to treatment rather than just incarceration. We can come together as New Jerseyans. Treatment requires working, rolling up our sleeves, getting our hands muddy.”

The conversation turned to faith when Gov. McGreevey asked the women about their prayer lives. Promising to keep the three in his ongoing prayers, Gov. Christie told the group about a lesson his grandmother, a daily Mass attendee, had taught him in his youth about their Catholic faith. “These are challenging points of life, to know that God does not abandon us,” Gov. Christie told the women, “but sometimes he wants us to go in a different direction.”

At the press conference, Lao-Collins welcomed the governor and guests to Catholic Charities on behalf of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.  She informed the group, “Each year, over 8,000 people receive treatment in our various sites,” to which Gov. Christie replied, “What you do here is important to me and the future of the state.”

The newly announced addictions task force will be headed by Pastor Joe C. Carter of The New Hope Baptist Church, Newark; Gov. McGreevey; former N.Y. Jets quarterback Ray Lucas, who overcame his own addictions and now serves as a peer counselor; Larry Mihlon, chief of the West Long Branch Police, whose son is a recovering addict; medical professionals and a number of his cabinet members. Gov. Christie noted his desire to seek solutions to the scourge of addictions such as treatment, counseling and other services to help those affected to reclaim their lives and avoid incarceration.

“Every life is a gift from God,” the governor said. “We must fulfill the potential God has given us. This is not just an assignment, it is a mission.” Gov. McGreevey, noting that a study conducted by Columbia University found that 70 percent of those incarcerated are clinically diagnosed as addicts, continued, “This is a clear, powerful mandate for constructive change.”