Police unite to help those with opioid struggle

Hillcrest-area police departments are uniting for a new initiative aimed at helping to expedite placement into treatment, without fear of arrest, for those struggling with opioid addiction.

The police departments of Richmond Heights, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, Mayfield Heights and Mayfield Village have launched what they’re calling the “Safe Passages Initiative.”

Residents in those communities struggling with addiction can walk into any of those

police stations from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and receive expedited placement into an appropriate detox or treatment program, without fear of arrest, according to a news release.

Those seeking help will be interviewed by a department member who has received special training, according to the release. Paperwork and a short interview will be completed, followed by arrangements for placement with the most appropriate detox or treatment provider. Placement may not be immediate, but it is expected to take less than 72 hours, officials said,

In 1972, the departments joined together to form a law enforcement partnership called the Suburban Police Anti-Crime Network, or S.P.A.N. The departments have shared training and resources to “maximize law enforcement and crime prevention services, 27201 Highland Road 216-486-1234 while reducing costs.”

The Safe Passages Initiative will be overseen by S.P.A.N.’s Drug Enforcement Unit, which will “continue to aggressively target drug traffickers who prey on our communities and our residents,” according to the departments.

Members of the unit recently participated in the

inaugural law enforcement summit hosted by Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative, or PAARI, in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Our officers were able to network and learn best practices from law enforcement professionals who traveled to Boston from 27 different states, sharing with us how they manage and implement their outreach and intake programs,” S.P.A.N. Drug Enforcement Unit Commander Michael Scipione said.

Similar programs are currently in use by the Berea, Olmsted Township, Bedford, Newburgh Heights and Strongsville police departments according to the release.

Cuyahoga County continues to be hit hard by the opioid epidemic. At least 822 people in the county died of drug overdoses in 2017, up from 666 in 2016. Opioids — especially fentanyl — are the No. 1 contributor to overdose deaths in the county.

Outside of the walk-in hours, the departments said residents can call any time for more information.