Manchester Police Working on Program to Battle Opioid Addiction

Manchester Police are working on a program to battle heroin and opioid addiction by becoming the driving force towards recovery.

Police Chief Marc Montminy said every week police respond to an overdose. Every month a life is lost and last year, 14 addicts died from heroin and opioid use.

"We've been arresting heroin addict's for years and we find it very ineffective in reducing the epidemic here. So we're going to try something else," said Manchester Police Chief Marc Montminy.

Montminy has proposed a new program modeled after two Massachusetts police departments called Heroin and Opiate Prevention and Education (HOPE).

Partnered with the Eastern Connecticut Health Networks and other local addiction organizations, police will now help users recover from addiction by directing them to recovery programs.

"You can walk into the police department as an addict and say, 'Hey, look I'm addicted I need help,' and instead of a rest we will make you safe get you to the hospital get you into a program that has been designed for people who walk in off the street."

Citizens can join the fight by becoming recovery coaches.

"I think all of us know somebody who has an addiction problem whether or not we know," said Manchester General Manager Scott Shanley.

"This is not a Manchester problem this is a nationwide problem particularly aggressive here in New England," said Chief Montminy.

Montminy said the program should begin next month. Dealers and addicts breaking the law will still be prosecuted. Officers and recovery coaches will receive special training on how to handle addicts looking for help.

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