Thousands of people have been helped through that network, according to the recovery initiative. But assessing the long-, or even short-term success of treatment is difficult, so the full impact remains unknown. Still, there are signs the Gloucester program is working. In its first year, police referred about 350 people for treatment, according to researchers from Boston University and Boston Medical Center. Ninety-five percent entered into treatment. Critics of the initiative question if it is law enforcement’s responsibility to take on such a role. In some jurisdictions, local prosecutors have squabbled with police over their ability to grant addicts immunity. And some simply believe prison is the best place for those who use drugs and break the law. James Pendergraff, executive director of the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police, said programs like J-town’s might give police another tool at combating the opioid problem.
“We got really good at locking people up,” Pendergraff said. “That’s not the answer for folks who are addicted to drugs.” Similar initiatives have sprung up or are in the works in Alexandria and Georgetown, Kentucky, as well as at a few Kentucky State Police posts. While some programs wait for drug users to walk in the door, police at some departments seek out people with addictions or intervene at critical times, such as after overdoses. The Alexandria, Kentucky, program is among those with a social worker to help heroin users stay in recovery. Experts say these sorts of interventions are worth the effort, with the understanding that it may take many treatment attempts to reach recovery.If fewer people use drugs, they say, crime goes down, more families stay together and the entire community wins.
“WE GOT REALLY GOOD AT LOCKING PEOPLE UP.” -PENDERGRAFF
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