Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Counterdrug Task Force Mission
The New Jersey National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force supports detection, interdiction, disruption and curtailment of drug trafficking and associated illicit activities at the request of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies by using unique military skills and assets in order to support national counterdrug strategies and objectives, as well as the Counterdrug Activities Plan for the State of New Jersey.
In The News
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News and Resources
Spotlight
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Vision Statement
We, the soldiers and airmen of the National Guard Counterdrug Program, will become the catalysts for synchronized cooperation between and among DoD and federal, state, and local agencies across the full spectrum of counterdrug homeland defense operations. By leveraging our unique military capabilities, national resources, and community focus we will play a central role in shaping our state’s response to drug and associated transnational security threats.
Contact Information
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COL Joseph GagnonNew Jersey Counter Drug Coordinator
joseph.o.gagnon2.mil@army.mil
SMSgt Chris WutschNCOIC Operations
george.wutsch@us.af.mil
Sussex County teams up with NJNG for Red Ribbon Week
Over the course of 30 days, the New Jersey National Guard Drug Demand Reduction Outreach section of the CounterDrug Task Force collaborated with The Center for Prevention & Counseling (CPC) in Sussex County to ensure the schools participating in the Plant the Seed activity had red flower bulbs to plant.
Red Ribbon Week is celebrated annually from October 23-31 and it highlights the importance of living a drug-free life. Parents, educators and community members strive to reinforce the drug-free messages shared through information awareness and education during this week as it is celebrated nationally.
CPC provided support and facilitated community engagement to commemorate Red Ribbon Week’s "Plant the Seed" activity.
As a result of this partnership, the coalition was able to supply 7 schools in the county with flower bulbs for the students to plant. When the flowers bloom in the Spring, it will serve as a reminder of the importance of living a drug fee life.
Staff Sergeant Receives Coin from The Director of Joint Staff
Staff Sgt. Darren Williams, of the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, New Jersey Army National Guard, receives a challenge coin from Brig. Gen. Tim Coakley, Director of the Joint Staff, New Jersey National Guard, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Nov. 7, 2023.
The coin was awarded in recognition of Williams’ work conducted throughout Bergen County and Garfield Township while serving on the CounterDrug Task Force.
SSG Williams has served as a Civil Operator with the CDTF since 2015. In this role, he assists community-based organizations with drug prevention and education as well as mapping utilizing ArcGIS as a part of the Drug Demand Reduction Outreach section.
Resilience Training
The New Jersey National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force coordinated with Sergeant First Class Andrea Hinds, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, to train over 30 leaders of the Southern Ocean County Interfaith Advocacy and Leadership (SOCIAL) in real-time resiliency.
SFC Hinds is certified in Equal Opportunity, SHARP, Suicide Prevention and she is one of the state's Master Resilience Trainers.
SSG Petrizzo Recognition
Staff Sergeant Christopher Petrizzo, of 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment, New Jersey Army National Guard, receives a challenge coin from Brig. Gen. Tim Coakley, Director of the Joint Staff, New Jersey National Guard, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The coin was awarded in recognition of SSG Petrizzo’s work conducted throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties while serving on the Counter-Drug Task Force (CDTF).
SSG Petrizzo has served as a Civil Operator with the CDTF since 2017. In this role, he assists community-based organizations with drug prevention and education as a part of the Drug Demand Reduction Outreach section.
Throughout 2022, SSG Petrizzo assisted in organizing and developing a new strategic plan for the Prevention Coalition of Monmouth County. Meanwhile, in support of DART Coalition of Ocean County, he created a map of faith based locations which was used in their grant packet that helped the coalition receive funding for their prevention efforts.
The mission continues for SSG Petrizzo, as he assists the Monmouth and Ocean County coalitions in mapping, facilitation, resource identification, and data analysis in drug prevention efforts within their communities and throughout the state.
NJARNG Teams Up with DEA for National TakeBack Day
Drug Enforcement Administration Agents in partnership with the New Jersey Army National Guard CounterDrug Task Force collect and dispose of prescription medication during Operation Take Back New Jersey, Oct 31 - Nov 1, 2022, Newark, New Jersey. Operation Take Back NJ is a biannual event that encourages residents to safely dispose of unused or expired medications consequence-free.
Since 1973 when the DEA declared war on the epidemic of drug overdoses nationwide, Take Back Days have helped communities in need to address public health, environmental, and nationwide security concerns by safely disposing of unused and expired medications.
There are 249 collection sites across the state and 232 Law Enforcement Agencies participated, helping provide a total of 16,065 lbs of unwanted prescription medications which were collected and disposed of at the Covanta Essex Resource Recovery Facility in Newark, NJ.