Somerset Police Partner with P.A.A.R.I. to Create Addiction Initiative
Chief George M. McNeil is pleased to announce that the Somerset Police Department has joined the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) to launch an addiction outreach and recovery program.
Similar to many other communities around the nation, Somerset has been seriously impacted by opioid addiction crisis that has grown dramatically over the last several years. The police department is choosing to make a difference in the community by providing help to those suffering from addiction. This starts with officers encouraging people to come to the police station and seek help without fear of arrest or prosecution, and it includes treating those suffering from addiction with compassion and respect.
The Somerset Police Department will begin its program on March 1 and will be following the Arlington Outreach Initiative model. As a part of the initiative, trained clinicians:
• Reach out to people known to suffer from addiction living in the community
• Support them in developing a plan to facilitate long-term recovery
• Direct them and their loved ones to related services and support groups.
“We admire what P.A.A.R.I. is all about and what the groups stands for in helping those struggling with addiction,” Chief McNeil said. “It is time to take matters into our own hands and create a program that can help out our residents and get them the help that they need in order to recover and take back their lives.”
More complete information can be found HERE regarding this Somerset PD program.
Somerset Outreach Facebook site can be found HERE
SSTAR hotline number: (508-415-7896)
Click HERE for an article written by George Austin of the Somerset Spectator
Click HERE for signs and what to do in case of an overdose
Click HERE for local resources at Learn 2 Cope
Click HERE for the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery