opioids

*Media Advisory* Third Annual P.A.A.R.I. National Law Enforcement Summit to Take Mission to Nation’s Capital

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, Oct. 11, 2019

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

*Media Advisory*

Third Annual P.A.A.R.I. National Law Enforcement Summit to Take Mission to Nation’s Capital

BOSTON — Executive Director Allie Hunter is pleased to announce that the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) will host its third annual National Law Enforcement Summit and, for the first time, will gather hundreds of dedicated professionals in the nation’s capital to share strategies to overcome the nationwide opioid epidemic.

WHEN:

  • Thursday Dec. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (main sessions and reception)
  • Friday, Dec. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (optional post-summit training, networking and advocacy opportunities)

WHERE: 

U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

  • Rayburn House of Representatives Office Building
  • Kennedy Caucus Room, Russell Senate Office Building
  • Hart Senate Office Building

WHAT: 

In its third year, P.A.A.R.I. will bring its lifesaving first-of-its-kind approach to the opioid crisis to Washington, uniting law enforcement, legislators and public health leaders in a unique setting to advance the work of overcoming the nationwide opioid crisis.

“Every law enforcement executive and manager should take special interest in what this conference can do to help an agency reduce the opioid crisis in the community they serve,” said Gil Kerlikowske, retired Seattle Police Chief, former President of Major Cities Chiefs, former White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner.

The event will connect and empower law enforcement leaders who currently run — or would like to launch — a program to prevent overdose deaths and create non-arrest pathways to treatment and recovery.

Attendees will also have opportunities to meet with members of Congress and other decision makers at the federal level to discuss how local law enforcement agencies can shape public policy in response to the nation’s opioid crisis.

“This event is always the highlight of our year,” Executive Director Hunter said. “By hosting the summit in Washington, it gives our law enforcement leaders an unprecedented chance to meet directly with the lawmakers who can support their work at the local and federal level by focusing on policy that will save lives and enable access to treatment and recovery.”

Registration costs $100 for the two-day summit and is open to all members of law enforcement and their guests. Attendees are encouraged register early, as a very limited number of spots are available. Those who are not members of law enforcement will be added to a wait list and refunded if space is not available. 

To register via Eventbrite, click here.

Click here to see photos from last year’s National Law Enforcement Summit at Harvard Medical School. For videos, presentations, and handouts from past year’s events, click here and here.

Travel and agenda details, including presenters and speakers, will be announced as they become available.

About P.A.A.R.I

The Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help law enforcement agencies nationwide create non-arrest pathways to treatment and recovery. Founded alongside the groundbreaking Gloucester MA Police Department Angel Initiative in June 2015, P.A.A.R.I has been a driving force behind this rapidly expanding community policing movement. We provide technical assistance, coaching, grants, and other capacity-building resources to more than 500 police departments in 33 states. We currently work with more than 130 law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts alone. P.A.A.R.I and our law enforcement partners are working towards a collective vision where non-arrest diversion programs become a standard policing practice across the country, thereby reducing overdose deaths, expanding access to treatment, improving public safety, reducing crime, diverting people away from the criminal justice system, and increasing trust between law enforcement and their communities. Our programs and partners have saved thousands of lives, changed police culture, reshaped the national conversation about the opioid epidemic and have placed over 22,000 people into treatment since it’s founding in June 2015. Learn more at www.paariusa.org.

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Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley Representatives Take Part in Rockefeller Institute Forum on Opioids in Rural Communities

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Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley
Annette Kahrs, Program Director

For Immediate Release

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley Representatives Take Part in Rockefeller Institute Forum on Opioids in Rural Communities

Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley Program Director Annette Kahrs and law enforcement liaison, Montgomery Police Detective Sgt. Guy Farina, attended a forum on the opioid crisis last night in Albany. (Courtesy Photo Rockefeller Institute)

*Click here for video of the forum*

ALBANY, N.Y. — Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley is pleased to announce that Program Director Annette Kahrs and Law Enforcement Liaison, Montgomery Police Detective Sgt. Guy Farina took part in a panel discussion on the opioid epidemic last night.

On Wednesday, June 26, Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley (HNH-HV) was one of four featured organizations to take part in “Fighting Back,” a forum hosted by the Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany.

The forum, photo exhibition and release of findings by Rockefeller Institute researchers emphasized the response to impact of the opioid crisis on rural New York communities like the ones HNH-HV serves in Orange, Rockland and Dutchess Counties. The photos highlighted 18 months of visits to Sullivan County during the Rockefeller Institute’s research.

Detective Sgt. Farina has done extensive work investigating and responding to domestic violence and sexual assault, and noted during last night’s discussion that those issues–like addiction–carry a stigma with them that must be eliminated before any one of them can be fully addressed.

“The opioid crisis is the kind of public health emergency that requires a united front to overcome, and we’re so honored to have been invited to take part in this forum and learn from organizations that are making such a meaningful impact,” Kahrs said. “Our law enforcement partners recognize this challenge and are committed to lending a helping hand to their communities by opening their stations as a gateway to recovery for those in need.”

HNH-HV was launched in 2018 as a way to forge a connection between local police departments and the members of their respective communities struggling with substance use disorders, building trust among all stakeholders toward a common goal. Since then, HNH-HV and its partner agencies have connected more than two dozen individuals with lifesaving recovery resources.

In addition, HNH-HV has recruited, trained and deployed over 350 Angel volunteers, who work on location with partner police departments to serve as a dedicated resource for those seeking help overcoming addiction. At last night’s discussion, Kahrs pointed to the dedication of those volunteers as a clear indicator of the desire among members of the Hudson Valley community to address the opioid crisis in new ways.

“It’s clear that the opioid epidemic is not a problem that we can do away with simply by making arrests,” Detective Sgt. Farina said. “This is a complex problem that requires innovative solutions, and Hope Not Handcuffs-Hudson Valley and its partner agencies are committed to approaching this issue in a new way in order to save lives.”

About Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley: 

Hope Not Handcuffs – Hudson Valley is an initiative aimed at bringing law enforcement and community organizations together in an effort to find viable treatment options for individuals seeking help to reduce dependency on illicit drugs and alcohol. Through the initiative, partner police departments open their doors to those who are ready to seek treatment and support to overcome opioid addiction, creating a non-arrest pathway to recovery.

About the Rockefeller Institute of Government:

The Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. The Institute conducts cutting-edge research and analysis to inform lasting solutions to the problems facing New York State and the nation.

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P.A.A.R.I. Launches First Recovery-Friendly Construction Site Program

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

P.A.A.R.I. Launches First Recovery-Friendly Construction Site Program

BOSTON — The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.), in conjunction with John Moriarty and Associates, Meredith Management, Gerding Edlen and Nuveen, launched a first of its kind Recovery Friendly Worksite on Friday at the Fenway Center Project located at 771 Beacon St in Boston.

At Friday’s launch event leaders in the recovery and construction communities came together with more than 200 union workers to help reduce stigma surrounding substance use disorder and provide support and resources, including naloxone training, recovery referral resources, and access to naloxone at onsite. Kits with treatment resources and NARCAN, the opioid overdose reversal medication, are installed on site.

The pioneering program is intended to save lives, reduce the stigma and provide support and resources for those suffering from substance use disorders, and will soon be rolled out to all JMA constructions sites throughout the region.

According to a 2018 report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, construction workers account for nearly 25 percent of opioid-related deaths among the working population of Massachusetts.

“Given the opioid epidemic’s toll on the construction industry, with construction workers accounting for nearly 25 percent of opioid-related deaths among the working population of Massachusetts, efforts to reduce stigma and encourage individuals struggling with substance use disorders to connect with local treatment and support services is vital for every construction site and employer, stated Meredith Management President and P.A.A.R.I. co-founder John Rosenthal.

“Every community and industry is impacted by the opioid epidemic, but due to a higher incidence of workplace injuries and a greater likelihood of being prescribed opioid painkillers, it is especially essential to support people who work in industries like fishing and construction,” said Allie Hunter, P.A.A.R.I.’s executive director. “We hope this program will inspire other construction companies and worksites of all kinds to launch similar initiatives that prepare for overdose scenarios and create stigma-free access points to treatment and recovery.”

Also included in the partnership is Tac Life Systems/NarCase who created a first-of-its-kind specialty NARCAN kit custom developed for work sites and other venue-based naloxone access programs. NarCase kits have been be wall-mounted in six locations at the Fenway Center construction site, four of which will be in construction hoist elevators, allowing the quickest on-scene access to the medication in the event of an overdose.

Single step 4-mg NARCAN and NarCases were also distributed to 56 crew members during the event.

The new initiative also included access to informational materials from P.A.A.R.I., including referral cards for P.A.A.R.I.’s team of Recovery Corps Recovery Coaches, who provide support to individuals struggling with substance use disorders or who are in need of support for a loved one. Those in need of support were encouraged to contact [email protected] for free and confidential support. Marc Lyle, Recovery Support Specialist for the Massachusetts Laborers’ Benefit Funds, was also in attendance to offer support.

“Our industry has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic and our goal is to break down the stigma surrounding substance use disorder, through education, training, and by equipping sites with life-saving naloxone,” Moriarty said. “We are committed to creating a culture where the men and women working on our sites know that recovery is possible and that we are here to help. This model for a recovery-friendly worksite will be rolled out to all of our projects, and we are grateful to all of our partners for their support in this important, life-saving new program,”

Tom Gunning of the Building Trades Employers Association added, “We are inspired to see this collaborative partnership bring meaningful solutions to construction job sites in Boston in an effort to change the narrative for those struggling with substance use disorder.”

The partnership announced at the event carries support from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Boston Mayor’s Office.

“I am grateful for this partnership because it works to promote substance use education and reduce addiction stigma,” said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. “This innovative recovery-friendly worksite is a continuation of excellent work being done by P.A.A.R.I. and their partners. We are proud of our partnership with P.A.A.R.I. through the Boston Police and the Office of Recovery Services, providing substance use services to those in need of support.”

About P.A.A.R.I.

The Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help law enforcement agencies nationwide create non-arrest pathways to treatment and recovery. Founded alongside the groundbreaking Gloucester Police Department Angel Initiative in June 2015, P.A.A.R.I. has been a driving force behind this rapidly expanding community policing movement. We provide technical assistance, coaching, grants, and other capacity-building resources to more than 450 police departments in 33 states. P.A.A.R.I. and our law enforcement partners are working towards a collective vision where non-arrest diversion programs become a standard policing practice across the country, thereby reducing overdose deaths, expanding access to treatment, improving public safety, reducing crime, diverting people away from the criminal justice system, and increasing trust between law enforcement and their communities. Our programs and partners have saved thousands of lives, changed police culture, and reshaped the national conversation about the opioid epidemic. Learn more at www.paariusa.org.

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Armstrong Ambulance Administers CPR Lessons at Recovery Centers of America

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Armstrong Ambulance
87 Mystic St.,
Arlington, MA 02474

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Armstrong Ambulance Administers CPR Lessons at Recovery Centers of America

ARLINGTON — Armstrong Ambulance is pleased to join Recovery Centers of America to provide hands-only CPR lessons to RCA patients.

Beginning last month, Armstrong staff are visiting RCA’s Danvers location and working with patients suffering from addiction to teach them how to perform lifesaving CPR prior to being discharged from treatment.

The lessons, which were organized and are taught by Armstrong Educational Coordinator Larry LeDoux, provide RCA patients with a basic understanding of how to perform CPR, including the proper technique and rhythm to ensure the best chances at success.

LeDoux teaches students the steps, including calling 911 first and foremost, and then administering chest compressions to the beat of a familiar song with an appropriate amount of beats per minute. Some examples include “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees or “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce.

“These lessons provide RCA’s patients with a valuable skill that they may some day need to help a loved one or friend in need,” LeDoux said. “This is something tangible and practical that patients can be proud of upon being discharged.”

According to the American Heart Association, approximately 90 percent of those who undergo sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die. If performed immediately, CPR can double or triple a victim’s chances of survival.

“During the drug and alcohol epidemic that exists today, so many of our patients are in situations where friends and others around them are overdosing and dying,” Danvers Recovery Centers of America CEO Laura Ames said. “Narcan is not always available and this CPR training by Armstrong Ambulance provides our patients with a valuable lifesaving skill to help others suffering from an addiction who are in need of help.”

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