addiction

*MEDIA ADVISORY* BeBOLD Bedford, N.H. Speaker Series Event Oct. 29

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Bedford Police Department
John J. Bryfonski, Chief of Police
55 Constitution Drive
Bedford, NH 03110

For Immediate Release

Friday, Oct. 26, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

*MEDIA ADVISORY*

BeBOLD Bedford Speaker Series Event Oct. 29 to Feature Bedford Resident Jenna Collins and Her Brave Story of Addiction and Recovery

 

Before and after: Jenna Collins shared this photo her of before she began her recovery journey, and today! (Courtesy Photo/Jenna Collins)
Before and after: Jenna Collins shared this photo her of before she began her recovery journey, and today! (Courtesy Photo/Jenna Collins)

BEDFORD, N.H. — BeBOLD Bedford is proud to announce its Speaker Series event later this month, featuring a Bedford resident who will share her personal story of addiction and recovery with the community.

WHEN:

Monday, Oct. 29, 2019

7-8 p.m.

WHERE:

Bedford High School Auditorium

47 Nashua Road
Bedford, NH 03110

WHO:

  • Bedford Resident Jenna Collins
  • Leaders from BeBOLD Bedford
  • Jon Correia

WHAT:

For a culminating event during Red Ribbon Week (Oct. 23-31) BeBOLD Bedford is featuring Jenna Collins, who will share her story of addiction and recovery with the community. Whether you’re battling addiction, have a friend or loved one who is, or you are a parent with concerns for your children, this is one speaking series not to miss.

Above is a before and after picture of Jenna, which she has released to the public, showing the affects of her addiction and how she was able to take back her life. Jenna will be joined by another member of the recovery community, Jon Correia, who will also talk about his experience with addiction. The event promises to feature a powerful message geared for all ages but especially teens and their parents.

This is a free event and all are welcome.

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Plymouth County Outreach Honored With National Community Policing Award

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Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3922
Email: [email protected]

Plymouth County Outreach Honored With National Community Policing Award

ORLANDO, FLORIDA — The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) was awarded the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Leadership in Community Policing Award Tuesday night.

Several PCO representatives were in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday to accept the award during the 2018 IACP Annual Conference and Exposition – including many Plymouth County police chiefs, District Attorney Timothy Cruz and Sheriff Deputy Superintendent James Muscato.

The Leadership in Community Policing Award recognizes outstanding community policing initiatives undertaken by law enforcement agencies across the world. The award is given to police agencies whose best practices in community policing utilize collaboration and partnerships to make their communities safer. PCO received the award for its continued, collaborative efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.

“Being recognized among our peer police chiefs from across the country and the world was truly an honor,” said East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen, who attended the event. “Plymouth County Outreach, and the collaborative approach we have taken with our partners in law enforcement, is truly helping to break down the stigma of addiction. It’s an honor to have our efforts and approach recognized as a success.”

The IACP Annual Banquet featured the formal swearing-in of the IACP president and board of officers and the presentation of the Leadership Awards. The a black-tie affair Tuesday night featured music and dancing in the ballroom of the Orange County Convention Center.

The IACP conference was held from Oct. 6-9 and was highlighted by a visit and speech from President Donald Trump on Monday, who heralded the efforts of law enforcement officers and stressed the importance of officer safety.

“We believe Plymouth County Outreach is a vital resource to the residents in our communities and it is our mission to continue to help those struggling with addiction,” said Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri, who also attended Tuesday’s ceremony. “Being honored with this award will only strengthen our approach and I look forward to seeing what PCO can accomplish in the future.”

Last week, PCO was awarded a $500,000 grant as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Program through the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant funds will allow PCO to hire two full-time program coordinators and will help to improve its data-collecting and data analyzing capabilities.

Plymouth County Outreach is an opioid prevention and recovery coalition made up of 27 municipal police departments in Plymouth County, along with the Bridgewater State University Police.

In addition to its partners, PCO has a Chiefs Advisory Board that includes Brockton Signature Healthcare’s Dr. Daniel Muse, South Shore Hospital’s Dr. Jason Tracy and Timothy Quigley, Plymouth Public Health Director Dr. Nathaniel Horowitz-Willis and Beth Israel Deaconess-Plymouth’s Dr. Alejandro Dan Mendoza.

About Plymouth County Outreach:

Plymouth County Outreach is a collaborative of police departments throughout Plymouth County led by the following chiefs: Abington Chief David Majenski, Bridgewater Chief Christopher Delmonte, Bridgewater State University Chief David Tillinghast, Brockton Chief John Crowley, Brockton Police Lt. Richard Linehan, Carver Chief Marc Duphily, Duxbury Chief Matthew Clancy, East Bridgewater Chief Scott Allen, Halifax Chief Ted Broderick, Hanover Chief Walter Sweeney, Hanson Chief Michael Miksch, Hingham Chief Glenn Olsson, Hull Chief John Dunn, Kingston Chief Maurice Splaine, Lakeville Chief Frank Alvihiera, Marion Chief John Garcia, Marshfield Chief Phillip Tavares, Mattapoisett Chief Mary Lyons, Middleboro Chief Joseph Perkins, Norwell Chief Ted Ross, Pembroke Chief Richard Wall, Plymouth Chief Michael Botieri, Plympton Chief Patrick Dillon, Rochester Chief Robert Small, Rockland Chief John Llewellyn, Scituate Chief Michael Stewart, Wareham Chief John Walcek, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Scott D. Benton.

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Central Middlesex Police Partnership Continues Working with P.A.A.R.I to Build Capacity of Opioid Program

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For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Central Middlesex Police Partnership Continues Working with P.A.A.R.I to Build Capacity of Opioid Program

Police Departments Receive Second AmeriCorps Grant to Bring on Part-Time Recovery Coach

MIDDLESEX COUNTY —  The Police Chiefs of Acton, Bedford, Concord, Carlisle, Lincoln, Lexington, Stow, Maynard and Hanscom Air Force Base, which make up the Central Middlesex Police Partnership (CMPP), are pleased to announce that their police departments have received their second AmeriCorps grant from the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I) to bring on a part-time recovery coach to increase the group’s addiction and recovery efforts.

This groundbreaking statewide program, which launched last year, places 25 AmeriCorps members in host police department sites across Massachusetts. They then work to build the capacity of law enforcement programs and assist those suffering from substance use disorders by connecting them to treatment and recovery services that divert them from the criminal justice system.

CMPP communities are among the 73 police departments selected to receive an AmeriCorps grant from P.A.A.R.I.

“We’re excited to continue to bolster our efforts to support those with substance use disorders and their loved ones,” said CMPP’s Jail Diversion Coordinator Alia Toran-Burrell. “Last year’s recovery coach was a great asset in providing life saving resources to our community members.”

To make the AmeriCorps program possible, P.A.A.R.I received a three-year grant from the Massachusetts Service Alliance and the Corporation for National and Community Service to assist with local police-led addiction and recovery programs in light of the growing opioid epidemic.

“P.A.A.R.I’s mission is to provide resources to help law enforcement agencies combat the opioid epidemic and this innovative program will add significant capacity to our law enforcement partners and utilize service as a solution to address critical community needs,” said P.A.A.R.I Executive Director Allie Hunter McDade. “We are thrilled that CMPP has signed on as a partner for the second year of the groundbreaking program.”

P.A.A.R.I and CMPP are currently seeking applications for the part-time recovery coach to be based in the Bedford area. The recovery coach will receive a twice monthly living allowance of $339, 60 hours of training and 35 hours of supervision toward the CARC Recovery Coach Certification and valuable experience working in the field. Recovery Coaches who successfully complete a term of service also receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of up to $2,907.50, which may be used to pay educational costs at post-secondary educational institutions or to pay student loans.

“We’ve seen firsthand the difference working with a recovery coach can have on our communities,” Concord Police Chief Joseph O’Connor said. “We’re thankful to be able to be a part of P.A.A.R.I’s AmeriCorps program for another year so that we can expand upon the work we’ve been doing on the local level.”

Interested applicants can find more information and application instructions here.

About AmeriCorps:
AmeriCorps is a civil society program that engages adults in public service work with a goal of helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. Members commit to full-time or part-time positions offered by a network of nonprofit community organizations and public agencies to fulfill assignments in the fields of education, public safety, healthcare, and environmental protection. There are more than 75,000 Americans in service each year.

About P.A.A.R.I:
The Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I) is a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission to help law enforcement agencies establish pre-arrest programs that create immediate and stigma-free entry points to treatment and recovery programs. P.A.A.R.I works across sectors to provide training, coaching, and support; program models, policies and procedures, and templates; seed grants; connections to over 300 vetted treatment centers; a network of like-minded law enforcement agencies; a unified voice with media and legislators; and capacity building through AmeriCorps. P.A.A.R.I is free to join and open to any law enforcement agency that believes in treatment over arrest and views addiction as a disease not a crime. Since June 2015, P.A.A.R.I has helped launch more than 400 law enforcement programs in 32 states, distributed 10,000 4mg doses of life-saving nasal naloxone, and helped over 18,000 people into treatment.

 

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Woburn District Court H.E.A.T. Program Addresses Substance Abuse at 12th Annual Conference

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Woburn Police Department

Woburn Police Department
Chief Robert J. Ferullo Jr
25 Harrison Ave.
Woburn, MA 01801

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 18, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Woburn District Court H.E.A.T. Program Addresses Substance Abuse at 12th Annual  Conference

WOBURN — Hundreds of leaders in public health and law enforcement came together last week for the 12th Annual Woburn District Court Heroin Education Awareness Task Force (H.E.A.T.) Conference to discuss the latest trends and treatment surrounding substance abuse.

On Friday, June 15, attendees gathered at the Hilton Boston/Woburn to learn more about drug use and ways to assist those struggling with addiction. The half-day meeting consisted of experts speaking about substance abuse treatment, prevention and enforcement.

The H.E.A.T. program was founded by Vincent J. Piro and Michael P. Higgins, of the probation department of Woburn District Court, the police departments of the seven cities and towns under its jurisdiction: Woburn, Burlington, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Wilmington and Winchester, the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services and the AdCare Educational Institute. The program is designed to educate the public, especially families and friends of those suffering from addiction, about heroin use and abuse trends among young people.

“To all the presenters and attendees who joined us for the 12th annual conference, thank you for making this year a success,” Piro said. “Every year, the Woburn District Court and our partner agencies work to provide life saving resources to those in need, and it is through these collaborations that we have been successful.”

Over the last few years, overdose deaths have exceeded motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. More than a decade ago, H.E.A.T. recognized the growing problem between painkiller abuse and heroin use, and every year works to call attention to deadly synthetic substances in an effort to prevent addiction and deaths.

“The H.E.A.T. program has been at the forefront of these issues for almost 13 years,” Woburn Police Chief Robert Ferullo said. “It is the belief of leaders at Friday’s conference that we must collaborate across agencies to provide education to the public on prevention, treatment for those struggling with addiction, and enforcement of the laws to make a difference in the opioid crisis.”

To open the conference, Stephen Wood from Winchester Hospital spoke about the rise in popularity of vaping, new substances that are being taken for recreational use (everything from Morning Glory flower seeds to “Flakka” — a synthetic cathinone that causes a number of symptoms like hallucinations and violent behavior) and potential warning signs that a loved one may be using drugs.

Britte McBride, Commissioner of Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, informed attendees about the provisions and regulations that will be in place for the marijuana industry once legalized sales go into effect on July 1, including mandated advertisements to educate consumers and promote safe use of products, stringent security protocols at establishments and testing of products before they go onto the market.

Billerica Town Manager John Curran shared his experience with the opioid crisis from a municipal level, using a proactive and reactive approach, while Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy Sheehan spoke about the change in perspective that law enforcement must take to address the opioid epidemic.

“We found that we couldn’t arrest our way out of the problem,” Chief Sheehan said. “We were really failing by not going deeper into the issue, and instead just going through the judicial system.”

In Tewksbury, the mentality of solely relying on enforcement has been altered and officials are looking at education, collaboration with local agencies and counseling/treatment to address the root of the issue. Additionally, all officers carry Narcan, an opioid reversal drug, to save the lives of those who are overdosing.

Michael McLaughlin and Pierce Aliberti, of Stoneham, closed the conference by sharing their experiences and journeys to recovery, thanking those who helped them along the way with resources and support.

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