Battling addiction with GROW teams

The Riverside Police Department witnessed a sharp increase of opioid-related overdoses in late 2016 through early 2017. The response to this issue included joining forces with the Montgomery County Sheriff ’s Department and the City of Dayton with the establishment of “GROW Teams.”

GROW stands for Getting Recovery Options Working. Specifically, Riverside’s GROW team began operating in April 2017. The team consists of officers and firefighters who volunteered on top of their normal duties. The team is also comprised of staff from the Cornerstone Project, which is one of the treatment options for those in need of help.

The police department tracks all overdoses and then assigns the GROW team to follow up with each individual within the next calendar week. The goal is to act quickly to offer treatment options to those who are dealing with addiction.

The team was established in April 2017, and as of September 2018, overdoses had dropped dramatically. Riverside had 247 overdoses in 2017, and as of Oct. 1, there have been 73 overdoses in 2018.

Any person who needs assistance regarding addiction please contact Major Matthew Sturgeon at 233-1801, ext. 452 or email msturgeon@riversideoh.gov. students leaving with a better foundation about the demands and rewards of a career in law enforcement. join the NIBIN program. Those interested can contact Det. Christine Krueger for more information at 937-233-1801, ext. 451 or ckrueger@riversideoh.gov.