In the midst of an opiod crisis that claimed a record number of lives last year, the local NGO Help Not Handcuffs will host three events featuring discussions with Portuguese Drug Czar Dr. João Goulão on how his country’s drug decriminalization policy succeeded in greatly reducing overdose deaths and improving other health outcomes. Among the […]

In an open letter to the Mayor and City Council, Help Not Handcuffs Founder Randy Thompson, Muata Greene and Deidre ‘Tiff’ Metcalf, and a group of area signatories will call for the removal of the James A Bradley statue that sits in the waterfront located park in the city founder’s name. Thompson’s organization is a nonprofit that works […]

The Asbury Park-based Help Not Handcuffs nonprofit has received a $25,000 grant to help grow and develop the organization’s efforts. Help Not Handcuffs works to help reform drug policy from a recovery and human rights perspective. “Currently the addiction/recovery narrative is largely exploited to support prohibition policies by celebrating abstinence and recovery while punishing continual […]

Asbury Park based Help Not Handcuffs has joined close to 25 organizations in a fight to end the killings being done under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s reign. Elected to office in May 2016, Duterte pledged to kill those involved in drug and criminal activity. Human rights organizations documented alleged death squad killings drug users, petty […]

The City’s own Help Not Handcuffs has been granted special consultative status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council [ECOSOC], CEO and founder Randy Thompson announced. Help Not Handcuffs works to help reform drug policy from a recovery and human rights perspective. They have participated in UN policy discussions as a guest member of delegations […]

Editor, Asbury Park Sun, Street construction began earlier this season on Park Avenue. What was surprising was that unlike other times when there was street repairs, the historic red bricks lining the sides of the street and the blue slate that acted as a curb was being unceremoniously trashed. Just to add insult to injury, […]

To the Editor, Asbury Park Sun, I support the candidacy of Joe Grillo for the Asbury Park Board of Education. But, I agree with the letter of Daniel Jacobson as he wrote “…not to factor in the unjust indictment against James Famularo in your [election] decision.” I was surprised as I read a reprint of […]

In recognition of Friday’s International Family Drug Support Day, local nonprofit Help Not Handcuffs Founder Randy Thompson has announced a partnership with Families for Sensible Drug Policies. “As long as our governments continue to criminalize drug use, then prohibition laws will be the priority, instead of the health and empowerment of individuals, and supporting the […]

An Americans for Safe Access [ASA] national report released last week calls for an end to contradictions between federal and state guidelines with regard to medical marijuana policies. Showing that not only do opiate related deaths drop an average of 24.8% in states with medical cannabis laws, the report  notes that the Department of Justice […]

In an effort to establish a comprehensive plan to stem the spread of injection-related HIV and Hepatitis C, the Asbury Park City Council will introduce new legislation to govern a Sterile Syringe Access Program [SAP]. To be administered by the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, the city’s program will operate “in accordance with the guidelines and procedures […]