The Burlington County Commissioners and officials joined with state and local lawmakers, families, and providers on Sept. 15 to celebrate Recovery Month and the deployment of a new Hope One mobile outreach vehicle designed to help residents suffering from substance use disorder to access treatment and other recovery resources.
The new Burlington County Hope One mobile outreach vehicle was dedicated at the start of the County’s 2nd Annual Recovery Walk at Kennedy Park in Burlington City. The event is held to celebrate the success of residents recovering from substance use disorder, along with those who contribute to their recovery and support them.
Drug deaths in Burlington County dropped for a fourth conservative year in 2025 to a decade low 61 deaths, according to the latest numbers posted by the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner.
“Substance use disorder is a disease that can be beaten, and Burlington County is helping to win this battle one life at a time,” said Burlington County Commissioner Randy Brolo, liaison to the County Department of Human Services. “Hope One is one of our most effective tools. For seven years it has traveled across our county to bring resources directly to residents where they are at, and this new vehicle will ensure this service will reliably continue into the next decade and beyond.”
“Burlington County’s Hope One is a proven difference-maker that is saving lives by connecting residents and families with resources that can aid them,” added State Senator Troy Singleton. “Burlington County’s significant decrease in overdose deaths is a credit to Hope One and other Burlington County programs that are helping to expand access to treatment. It’s exactly the kind of program the opioid settlement was intended to support, and I’m proud to see Burlington County invest in a reliable new vehicle.”
“As law enforcement, we’re sworn to protect and serve. Too often people think of the first part and not the second,” said Burlington County Sheriff James Kostoplis. “We want to provide those suffering from substance use disorder or other mental health conditions the assistance and support they need, and that’s exactly what Hope One does. We want to thank the Commissioners for launching this program and for continuing to support it and the other agencies that partner with us.”
Bringing resources to local communities
Hope One is operated by the Burlington County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Burlington County Department of Human Services, County Health Department and staff from Virtua Health, Maryville Addiction Treatment Center, and the Deborah Heart and Lung Center. The vehicle regularly travels to different communities in the county to offer training on overdose antidote use, and to provide outreach about available treatment and recovery services.
The new Hope One vehicle started deploying earlier this summer after the vehicle was purchased with funds from the County’s share of New Jersey’s opioid settlement. The vehicle replaced the original Hope One vehicle that first deployed in 2019.
The 2025 Freightliner RV is equipped with modern interior workspaces, a retractable awning, handicap accessible ramp, and specially retrofitted computer equipment capable of making on-site photo ID cards for residents who are without a permanent address and others lacking identification. Hope One staff also distribute supplies of the overdose antidote Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, along with fentanyl detection strips, and blankets and toiletry kits for residents who are homeless.
During the last three years, the unit has deployed 225 times and made contact with more than 6,570 people. Among those individuals, 2,103 received Narcan kits and training, 440 received fentanyl testing kits, 1,857 received toiletry kits, and 1,353 received photo IDs.
The original Hope One unit’s success also resulted in the launch of a companion vehicle, Hope One for Youth in 2024, which specializes in mental health and substance use prevention services for children and teens.
Burlington County Regional Advisory Council
Using opioid settlement funds to purchase the vehicle was recommended by the Burlington County Regional Advisory Council, a group of county officials and recovery experts assigned to develop plans for how the County might use its share of the opioid epidemic settlement funds.
Approximately $13.6 million is expected to be paid to Burlington County over 18 years as part of the national settlement with drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and three pharmaceutical distributors.
The Advisory Council is led by Burlington County Department of Human Services Director Shirla Simpson and Elfrieda Francis, head of the County Division of Behavioral Health and Youth Services. The other members include Burington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw, Burlington County Solicitor Ashley Buono, and Maryville Recovery Coach Delia Burgos.
In addition to creating the Hope One program, Burlington County has helped expand recovery supports and resources with the launch of two Peer Recovery Centers in the Burlington County Human Services Building (795 Woodlane Road, Westampton) and inside the Burlington City Municipal Building (535 High Street, Burlington). The centers offer peer support and other recovery services and resources.
Opioid funds were also used to distribute overdose emergency kits to schools, libraries, and other public spaces. The wall-mounted kits contain Narcan.
“These programs and support services have helped bring about a dramatic decrease in drug deaths over the last several years,” said Commissioner Brolo. “Working together we’re sending a message of hope to residents and families struggling against substance use disorder: you are not alone. Help and support is available thanks to these programs.”
