The Division of Addiction Services (DAS) was created by law in 1989 (P.L. 1989, c. 51; N.J.S.A. 26:2BB-5 and 6), combining the previously created Division of Narcotic and Drug Abuse Control (P.L. 1969, c. 152; N.J.S.A. 26:2G-1), and Division of Alcoholism (P.L. 1975, c. 305; N.J.S.A. 26:2B-9), both in the Department of Health and Senior Services. Effective April 5, 2004, DAS was transferred from the Department of Health and Senior Services to the Department of Human Services by Reorganization Plan 002-2004 (36 N.J.R. 1149(a)).

The mission of the Division of Addiction Services (DAS) is to promote the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and support the recovery of individuals affected by the chronic disease of addiction. As the single State agency for substance abuse, DAS is responsible for regulating, licensing, monitoring, planning and funding substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery support services in New Jersey. To achieve its mission, DAS provides leadership and collaborates with providers, consumers and other stakeholders to develop and sustain a system of client-centered care that is accessible, culturally competent, accountable to the public and grounded in best practices that yield measurable results.

The Division develops and supports community-based prevention, education and early intervention services to at-risk populations that will enhance their knowledge and skills to promote healthy life choices using a three-tiered approach:

• Universal: where media messages and written information is provided Statewide to all citizens through contracts and resource centers in every county;
• Selective: where programs of information and skill development are provided to groups of individuals at some risk; and
• Indicated: where programs of information, skill development and behavioral change are promoted to identify individuals most at risk.

The Division also supports and monitors a wide variety of substance abuse treatment services and treatment providers designed to reduce the misuse of alcohol and other drugs through effective evidence-based treatment, such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Patient Placement Criteria. DAS plans and coordinates addiction treatment services for the 21 counties of New Jersey. It is responsible for the development of treatment services for people involved in the criminal justice system, individuals with mental illness and substance abuse problems; and for the special needs of people who are deaf, hard of hearing or disabled, pregnant women, women with dependent children, minorities and adolescents. The Division conducts licensure inspections and reinspections to determine compliance with licensure standards of all outpatient and residential substance abuse treatment facilities.

The Division monitors substance abuse treatment provider agencies for quality assurance and compliance with required assessment and treatment protocols, and with other contract requirements. It maintains and publishes a comprehensive and searchable Statewide addiction treatment provider directory with location, contact information, and descriptions of treatment services available.

The Division is also responsible for the Statewide Intoxicated Driving Program (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50), which processes the conviction records of drivers convicted of driving under the influence and schedules these drivers for detention, evaluation, education, and treatment referral by the county-based intoxicated driver resource centers.