Regan made mark in N.J. and beyond

 Seabrook House officials over the weekend shared news of the death of an addiction policy leader who made his mark both in that organization’s home state of New Jersey and elsewhere. Riley Regan, 77, was founding director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholism, and in that role implemented a law that established a county-based planning system for alcoholism treatment and prevention in the state.

In addition, Regan had a central role in legislation that established New Jersey’s nationally recognized program to reduce incidences of drunk driving, and also served as executive director of the prevention-focused New Jersey Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. Regan died Dec. 7.

“Riley was a passionate advocate for those struggling to overcome substance abuse,” said former New Jersey Gov. Thomas H. Kean. “His monument is all those who he helped back to useful lives.”

Regan, who was also in recovery, came out of retirement in 2002 to direct New Hampshire’s Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Recovery. He also advised Indiana officials on addiction-related initiatives, and served as a mentor for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Developing Leadership in the Substance Abuse Field project.

Regan’s family asks that donations in his name be made to the recovery housing organization Oxford House, Inc., which has 82 of its nearly 1,600 U.S. homes in New Jersey; donations can be made via www.oxfordhouse.org.