In 1965, a small group of law enforcement officers and concerned citizens met at the North Ward Civic Association in Newark to discuss the growing problem of drug abuse and how it was affecting our young people, our family structure and our society.  From that meeting the NEW JERSEY NARCOTIC ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION was formed.  Today the NJNEOA has more than two thousand members that represent Federal, State, County, and Municipal law enforcement as well as private industry, the professions, education and government.

        The NJNEOA was organized to encourage mutual cooperation, discussion and interest in the problems of enforcement concerning drug abuse; to exchange ideas, conduct seminars and conferences to educate those involved in the abatement of the illegal narcotic trade.

        The NJNEOA has for more than twenty years encouraged education of young people about the dangers of substance abuse as a way of reducing the demand side of the problem.  Our innovative and much praised DEFENDERS AGAINST DRUGS PROGRAM teaches school children, in grades kindergarten through four, the importance  of pride in themselves and their families, and how saying "no" to drugs MEANS SAYING "YES" to a better life.  To date more than 75,000 New Jersey youngsters have received Defenders Against Drugs training in their schools.

        The NJNEOA is a member of the National Narcotic Officers Association Coalition.  The NNOAC represents thirty-five member states at the national level meeting with legislators, members of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and several legislative committees.  This enables state and local law enforcement issues and concerns being heard by our elected representatives in Washington, D.C.

        The NJNEOA conducts training seminars during the year to educate law enforcement officers on such topics as; developing trends in drug use and distribution, case law updates, officer safety, identifying symptoms of drug abuse and drug interdiction.  A three day training conference is held annually in June that is well attended by the members.  Each year the association trains nearly one thousand law enforcement officers.  The association publishes an informative news letter for its members that keeps them abreast of the latest developments in narcotic enforcement.

        NJNEOA has on several occasions had members and officers testify as experts before the United States Senate, the New Jersey Senate and Assembly and the State Commission of Investigation on a variety of issues dealing with drug abuse prevention and control.