Police adopt new initiative to deal with opioid abuse
Another Oakland County law enforcement group is partnering with Families Against Narcotics to establish what’s described as a compassionate approach to dealing with opioid abuse.
The Southfield Police Department is now one of 18 police agencies in Michigan who’ve created a FAN Comeback Quick Response Team, an initiative to help those struggling with addiction due to Substance Use Disorder or Opioid Use Disorder. Within 72 hours of a non-fatal drug overdose, the team visits a home where a first responder had helped with the lifethreatening event.
The team — consisting of two police officers, certified peer recovery coach and certified family recovery coach — has the goal of making contact with the person who overdosed and his or her family to “offer compassion, support, information, and assistance in obtaining recovery services, in addition to connecting the individual and family with community resources,” as stated in a news release from the Southfield Police Department.
“The Southfield Police Department is excited to partner with Families Against Narcotics to assist those suffering from substance use disorders,” Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren stated in the news release. “In addition to responding to overdose incidents, law enforcement officials must contribute to mitigating this national crisis by showing compassion and encouraging those in need of assistance to seek recovery options. This collaborative effort will enhance our community outreach initiatives, and ultimately save lives.”
FAN’s program director, Erin Whitkopf, said the organization is proud to partner with the Southfield Police Department on the COMEBACK Quick Response Team initiative.
“Chief Barren has compiled a team of strong, open-minded, compassionate officers,” she stated. “They are dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in their community who have been affected by the disease of addiction.”
The program debuted in Michigan last year with the Sterling Heights Police Department and subsequently was adopted by police departments in Oakland County. The Southfield Police Department joins Troy, Waterford, Berkley, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Farmington Hills and Ferndale who are part of the initiative as well as those elsewhere in the state including Allen Park, Roseville, Taylor, Saginaw, Midland, Gaylord and Grayling police departments and by sheriff’s offices in Crawford and Otsego counties.
So far, Comeback Quick Response Teams have made 1,461 home visits and offered resources and support to 890 families, according to the news release.
For more information on FAN, go to www.familiesagainstnarcotics.org.