2026-advocacy-piece

2 The Behavioral Health Budget Must Reflect New Jersey Value & Needs A s a child, Jasryn turned to drugs because she thought it provided an escape from reality. “In actual reality, I was just running. I ran from my past for as long as I could,” she said. When she was 19 and had been using drugs for eight years, she was sentenced to ten years in prison. “After serving my sentence, I was released, but I was not healed. While I was at Integrity, I bonded with my peers, the staff and the counselors. We worked together daily to promote our healing and help ourselves put the pieces back together. I accepted responsibility and stopped running from all the trauma and the pain that surrounded my addiction,” Jasryn shared. Thanks to Integrity’s clinical care and other support, Jasryn graduated from Rutgers University with a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice. She now has her own apartment, received her driver’s license and bought a vehicle without needing a co-signer. “I’m living proof that this program works. There is life after addiction. Today, I love who I am, and I love the direction life is taking!” Jasryn said. B ridgeway Behavioral Health Services recently celebrated and honored Joanne’s life-changing achievements, resulting from her hard work over the previous year and a half. She embraced every opportunity for growth, attending weekly and biweekly therapy sessions, to which she sometimes had to walk – further demonstrating her determination to overcome substance use disorder. In addition to the clinical treatment, the support from Bridgeway empowered Joanne to end unhealthy habits and relationships, secure stable housing and maintain full-time employment. She also achieved other important milestones, including obtaining her driver’s license and purchasing her first car. When she accepted her award, she said, “Thank you to Bridgeway and to Jessica. I wouldn’t be here without you today.” Joanne also gives a lot of credit to her dog. “I wouldn’t be alive, let alone in recovery, if it weren’t for Jamie,” she shared. Joanne recently completed her first semester of college. She is working toward an Associate’s degree in Human Services and plans to pursue a degree in Social Work.