Our vision for a healthy Trenton includes all greater Trenton residents who use drugs having resources to do so safely and to pursue recovery if/when desired.
Substance Use
In Trenton, substance use is deeply tied to cycles of trauma, poverty, and systemic inequities. Decades of harmful drug criminalization and societal stigma have left many residents without the support needed to break these cycles.
Data shows Mercer County’s age-adjusted overdose death rate is 33.3 per 100,000, significantly higher than the New Jersey average. In Mercer County, Black residents face disproportionately high death rates, drug-related hospital visits are increasing, and about 24% of adults lack health insurance, making access to treatment and recovery difficult.
What is THT Doing About It?
THT envisions a community where substance use no longer devastates families or neighborhoods. We believe that reducing harm through person-first compassion and relationship-building, rather than punishment, is essential to community health. We leverage community meetings, our data analytics capabilities, and our community health worker team to understand gaps in the treatment continuum and directly support people in all stages of use and recovery.
Overdose Fatality Review Team (OFRT)
Since 2020, THT has convened healthcare, social service, and public safety partners to examine the circumstances of overdose deaths. We convene over 30 individuals, have conducted 41 case review meetings, and reviewed over 120 actual cases.
Harm Reduction Committee
Our related Harm Reduction committee is led by local harm reduction centers and facilitates discussions on innovative approaches to inter-agency collaboration and internal policies that advance harm reduction principles.
Overdose Prevention Data Collection Project
Launched in 2023, this CDC Foundation-funded project created a hub for data sharing and evidence-based prevention. In 2025, THT began evaluating these indicators to assess the effectiveness of local interventions. Working with the CDC, a new site focused on national overdose data was launched. THT now serves as a mentor organization to assist harm reduction related organizations across the country in strategizing, collecting, and analyzing metrics related to substance use.
Community Care Support
Our Community Health Workers link residents to treatment and address root causes like housing instability and unemployment.
Harm Reduction + Resource Finder
The Harm Reduction+ Resource Finder is a free, easy-to-use online mapping tool that integrates all of Mercer County’s Harm Reduction, Substance Use, Mental Health tools, and resources into one interactive experience.
Access the map by clicking below:
Harm Reduction Campaign Group Discussion
From 2022-2023, THT and partner organizations launched a communications campaign to provide information about substance use disorder and harm reduction approaches located in Mercer County. The campaign highlighted where to find tools such as naloxone, needle exchange programs, and fentanyl test strips as well as specific information on different treatment options such as medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Our team’s goal in crafting the campaign was to de-stigmatize substance use disorder and normalize the idea of harm reduction instead.
Want to learn more about our work in Substance Use? Click on the flyer below.
Resources
Please consult the documents below for crucial information regarding substance use and possible life-saving safety and treatment options.
Staying safe and healthy while using substances.
Substance Use Treatment & Management Options
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