Leonard Campanello, Chief of Police
197 Main St.
Gloucester , MA 01930
For Immediate Release
Monday, June 22, 2015
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Palm Tree Recovery Joins Gloucester Initiative
GLOUCESTER — Police Chief Leonard Campanello and Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken are proud to announce the addition of Palm Tree Recovery, a substance abuse treatment organization with two facilities in southern Florida, to the Gloucester Police Department’s ANGEL initiative.
The Gloucester Initiative places those struggling the disease of addiction into treatment centers, rather than jail cells. Under the Initiative, addicts can come into the Gloucester Police Department and turn over their remaining drug supply and paraphernalia without the threat of arrest. The policy went into effect earlier this month in an effort to reduce the number of overdoses in Massachusetts. Click here to view the official police policy document.
“Every time a center like Palm Tree opens its doors to our initiative, it tells a very different story than what you typically hear about the availability of beds and treatment options for addicts, and I am very moved by it,” Chief Campanello said. “I know that Palm Tree Recovery will help further our mission of getting people the treatment they need and deserve.”
“This entire initiative is about getting as many people into treatment as possible and reducing the number of addicts out there,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “I am proud to add Palm Tree Recovery to our list of partner facilities.”
Given the immediate positive response from local, state and national organizations, Chief Campanello and businessman John Rosenthal last week launched The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) — a new nonprofit organization created in response to Gloucester’s revolutionary drug addiction program.
“It is a privilege to partner with Chief Campanello and The Gloucester Initiative,” said Founder and CEO Scott Tobin, who struggled with addiction 25 years, himself, before starting Palm Tree Recovery nine years ago. “As someone who knows the every day struggles of drug addiction, it is my hope that we can assist patients in this program conquer their disease.”
About Palm Tree Recovery:
Palm Tree Recovery has facilities in Florida’s Boynton Beach and Pompano Beach to assist patients in remaining clean and sober, while improving their overall health. Their programs are designed to meet the specific needs of each recovering addict, including weekly lectures, in-house meetings, one-on-one sessions and daily participation in the 12-step fellowships. For more information visit ptrfla.com/ or call 561-733-0878.
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