opioid crisis

Somerset Opioid Crisis Intervention Outreach Meeting Scheduled for Tuesday, May 7

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Somerset Police Department
Chief George M. McNeil
465 County St.,
Somerset, MA 02726

For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Somerset Opioid Crisis Intervention Outreach Meeting Scheduled for Tuesday, May 7

SOMERSET — Chief George McNeil would like to announce that a monthly Opioid Crisis Intervention outreach meeting will be held in Somerset next week and will feature a special presenter from the Recovery Centers of America.

WHEN:

Tuesday, May 7 at 6 p.m.

WHERE:

Somerset Council on Aging, 115 Wood Street, Somerset

WHAT:

Each month, River to Recovery hosts an Opioid Crisis Intervention meeting to provide information to families in the Somerset region about addiction, treatment and recovery.

This month, River to Recovery invites Treatment Advocate Todd Whitridge from the Recovery Centers of America to speak to those in attendance. Whitridge will give a presentation about the vital impact that recovery and treatment plays in the opioid crisis and will answer questions.

River to Recovery is a partnership made up of the Somerset Police Department, Peer 2 Peer program and Seven Hills Behavioral Health.

“This will be the latest installment of our monthly outreach meetings. We hope to see a large turnout and encourage anyone who may be struggling with substance use or their family members or loved ones to come and attend,” Chief McNeil said. “These events provide a great opportunity to not only learn about what options are available, but also to ask questions and speak to professionals who are willing and able to help.”

For more information, please call the Somerset Police Department at 508-679-2138.

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Plymouth County Outreach: Fatal Overdoses in Plymouth County Decreased by 18 Percent in 2018

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Friday, March 29, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Plymouth County Outreach Outlines 2018 Annual Report Data

Fatal Overdoses in Plymouth County Decreased by 18 Percent in 2018

The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) has released the data from its 2018 Annual Report, showing an 18% decrease in fatal overdoses and a 13% decrease in non-fatal overdoses in Plymouth County, compared to 2017.

“We are seeing a drop in the number of fatal overdoses in the county, which is a positive step in the right direction,” East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen said. “One overdose death is one too many, so we still have our work cut out for us. But the numbers are trending in the right direction, which means more individuals suffering from substance use disorders are accessing treatment.”

To view the full report click here.

Overdose data from all 27 communities in Plymouth County was entered into the PCO Critical Incident Management System throughout the year in 2018. The data was then analyzed and interpreted by Kelley Research Associates.

Fatal and Non-Fatal Overdoses

In 2018, there were 121 fatal overdoses in Plymouth County. There were 147 fatal overdoses in 2017. The vast majority of the fatal overdoses in 2018 (98%) involved a known or suspected opioid. There were only three fatal overdoses that did not involve an opioid.

The number of non-fatal overdoses also fell year-over-year. In 2018, there were 1,338 non-fatal overdoses, compared to 1,529 in 2017.

The hardest impacted communities with people suffering overdoses in Plymouth County in 2018 were:

  • Brockton – 661 (45%)
  • Plymouth – 168 (12%)
  • Wareham – 159 (11%)
  • Middleborough – 54 (4%)
  • Rockland – 51 (4%)

Seventy-five percent (1,093) of the total fatal and non-fatal overdoses (1,459) reported in Plymouth County in 2018 occurred in those five communities.

In regard to the location of where victims overdosed in comparison to their community of residence, 74% of the victims overdosed in their town of residence, compared to 26% who overdosed in a community outside of where they live, or were homeless.

Collaborative Outreach Efforts

Throughout the year, PCO’s outreach team attempted 987 visits to the homes of overdose victims throughout Plymouth County. Of those visits, contact with overdose victims or their family members was successful in 590 cases. Of the successful visits, 143 individuals accepted treatment and 62 individuals were already seeking treatment.

“Every person we can make contact with and speak to drastically increases the chances that they will accept treatment,” Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri said. “Our outreach team members worked extremely hard last year and visited nearly 1,000 homes in Plymouth County. We would like to commend them for their efforts and are hopeful they will get even more people to accept treatment this year.”

In 333 (56%) of the 590 successful follow-up visits, the outreach team had direct contact with the individual who had overdosed. The outcomes of those 333 visits were:

  • Person Accepted Services – 143 (43%)
  • Person Declined Services – 86 (26%)
  • Person was Already Seeking Treatment – 62 (19%)
  • No Response Provided – 42 (12%)

Recovery coaches play a significant role in the PCO outreach teams, partnering with plainclothes police officers who conduct post-overdose home follow-up visits. PCO outreach teams include police officers, recovery coaches, clinicians and social workers from their collaborative partners in healthcare, substance treatment, recovery, faith-based and local coalitions.

The Brockton Police Department and Brockton’s Champion Plan are vital Plymouth County Outreach partners. The Champion Plan just celebrated its three-year anniversary. At its anniversary celebration earlier this month, Brockton Mayor William Carpenter announced that Brockton had signed on and joined P.A.A.R.I., the Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative, another key partner and supporter of PCO.

In 2018, 700 individuals sought assistance through the Champion Plan and efforts by the Brockton Police, with 1,100 placements into treatment.

Since PCO started in late 2016, the coalition has continued to evolve, working to enhance existing partnerships, while consistently creating new partnerships with key stakeholders working together to combat this crisis across the region.

PCO’s police departments, along with its partners, recognize that this proactive outreach approach could eventually be utilized to engage other behavioral health issues, a future goal and focus of the PCO Chiefs Advisory Board. The Board is made up of the Plymouth County police chiefs, physicians and healthcare experts who oversee the initiative.

“PCO has clearly made a positive impact on our community,” said Dr. Jason Tracy, Chairman of Emergency Medicine at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. Dr. Tracy, along with other Plymouth County healthcare leaders, is a member of the PCO Advisory Board. “Saving lives is a common goal of ours and it is encouraging to see what can be accomplished through this type of collaboration.”

PCO is currently six months into a two-year, Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance grant (Comprehensive Opioid Site-Based Program grant), which is providing $496,000 to PCO to expand and build upon the great work of the coalition throughout the county.

“Collectively, as a team across the county and with all of the key stakeholders, we are breaking down barriers and reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorders so that lives can be saved and families can be reunited,” said Brockton Police and PCO Advisory Board member Lieutenant Richard Linehan.

More information on PCO can be found at www.plymouthcountyoutreach.org

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 Joao Chaves, 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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Plymouth County Outreach Supports Bill to Provide Civilians Greater Access to Overdose-Reversing Medications

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Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Plymouth County Outreach Supports Bill to Provide Civilians Greater Access to Overdose-Reversing Medications

The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) is supporting a bill filed last week that would allow law enforcement officers — in addition to medically trained personnel — to provide civilians with the overdose-reversing drug Narcan (naloxone) and train them on how to administer the drug.

Bill SD.1414, “An Act Relative to Furthering the Success of Opiate Intervention Programs,” was filed on Jan. 17 by State Senator Walter F. Timilty. The bill was co-sponsored by State Senator Viriato M. deMacedo and State Representative Alyson M. Sullivan. Since its filing, State Senator Michael D. Brady, State Senator John F. Keenan and State Representative Matthew J. Muratore have also co-sponsored the bill. All of the bill’s current sponsors represent communities in Plymouth County.

If passed, the law would allow police officers to train people how to use Narcan and give civilians doses of the medication to use in the event of a person overdosing.

“Currently, only medically trained professionals, like doctors, nurses, firefighters and treatment center workers are able to provide people with Narcan and give them the training,” Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri said. “As police officers who are on the front lines dealing with the opioid crisis, we believe our officers should have the ability to further help someone before they overdose.”

East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen said, “Right now, when we are at an outreach follow-up visit with our officers and recovery coaches, if an overdose survivor or their family members need Narcan, we have to refer them to a local outreach organization like BAMSI, a drop-in center or Learn to Cope. That person might not go to one of the treatment centers until later that day or the next week or at all. Maybe they change their mind. Maybe they can’t get a ride. And we have effectively closed that window of opportunity to help someone who is seeking help right then and there.”

Seeing firsthand how similar scenarios have played out during PCO post-overdose outreach follow-up visits, the Police Chiefs of Plymouth County shared their concerns with Sen. Timilty, Sen. deMacedo and State Rep. Sullivan late last year, and they took the initiative in filing the bill. If passed, the change in the law would assist outreach teams, who are on the front lines across the state, and would be able to provide tools, like Narcan, to a vulnerable community at a more opportune time. Individuals who have overdosed have a high risk of suffering another overdose.

“Outreach teams have been engaging overdose victims and their families with a high rate of success, across the Commonwealth,” Sen. Timilty said. “By enabling these teams to provide naloxone to those who may be affected by an overdose, and training them on how to administer it, there is the hope that the outreach teams would be even more successful in their life-saving efforts.”

The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County offer their full support of the bill and hope to see police departments in communities throughout the state reach out to their local politicians and ask them to co-sponsor the bill and help raise awareness of this critical issue. The PCO Chiefs are asking all of their State Senators and State Representatives to sign on and support this bill.

“I have seen firsthand the difference Plymouth County Outreach has made in my community in helping those suffering from substance use,” Sen. deMacedo said. “It is my hope that this legislation will give those on the front lines greater access to the tools they need to save lives in our communities and across the state.”

State Rep. Sullivan said, “This key piece of legislation which has been filed in both the House and Senate, will be another step forward in the battle against the horrible opioid epidemic. Taking this proactive and aggressive approach will provide another necessary tool for our first responders and outreach teams. I look forward to working with Senator Timilty, Senator deMacedo, Chief Allen, Chief Botieri and members of PCO to advocate on behalf of this bill in continuing the fight against the opioid epidemic. I encourage my colleagues in both the House and Senate to support this legislation.”

Chief Allen said, “We are very thankful to see that our dialogue with Senator Timilty, Senator deMacedo and State Representative Sullivan has come to fruition as a bill and we are thankful for their support in getting this bill drafted. Hopefully it goes through the legislature and gets passed into law, giving our residents more access to this live-saving drug.”

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 Joao Chaves, 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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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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