Daytop New Jersey Helps Kids Battle Addiction [VIDEO/AUDIO]

The groundbreaking non-profit launched in Mendham in 1992 to help teens and young adults fight addiction.

Daytop New Jersey has since grown into five locations, three outpatient and two inpatient facilities, in Morris County, Hunterdon County, Clayton, Mendham, and Pittsgove.

"We provide behavioral health services for children and adults," said Executive Director James Curtin.

Daytop provides:

A family based, cost effective and peer oriented comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment program
Certified substance abuse and mental health professionals
Professional medical services for residential clients
A full continuum of care either directly or through affiliation with other healthcare providers
Comprehensive education programs in a preparatory school
An alternative to incarceration in some cases
A program based on the proven concepts of the therapeutic community and contemporary treatment modalities
CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation in all Daytop programs. Recognized for superior standards of care and excellence in outcomes.

Curtin said he has seen a rise in opiate abuse over the last six to seven years.

"These are kids from the suburbs abusing heroin," Curtin said.

He estimates that the organization treats 500 New Jerseyans yearly.

On Thursday, September 26th, Daytop holds their main annual fundraiser, The Spirit of Daytop Gala, at the Palace at Somerset Park.

Tickets for the event start at $600, and the deadline to RSVP is September 12th.

This year's gala features special guests.

"We'll be giving the Governor and Mary Pat (Christie) the Spirit of Daytop Award," he said. "And we hope to raise a lot of money that night to help fund our programs and our services."

On the most recent 'Ask the Governor' program, Governor Christie spoke about Daytop, where he's served as a board member.

"It is a place where miracles happen. I've seen it over and over and over again," Christie said.

Learn more about this great organization and their upcoming event by checking them out online and on Facebook.