Drug Treatment
Federal Resources develops a progressive and comprehensive training program for first responders, schools, families, and communities to reduce opioid use, overdoses, deaths, and the stigma surrounding seeking help to save lives
While some headway has been made recently with a decline in overdose deaths, our “allies” in our efforts have become part of the problem
In this free guide, we explore the latest law enforcement tactics and training for combating the opioid epidemic
The new law rolls back a 2020 voter-approved measure by making so-called personal use possession a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail
Measure 110, which was passed by voters in 2020, decriminalized possession of illicit substances if the amounts were small enough to be for personal use
“Naloxone is a necessary tool ... it should be available and accessible in as many places as possible, in the same way we have fire extinguishers and defibrillators in case of emergencies,” council member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam said
“[Laws decriminalizing drug use are] having a negative impact on public safety. That’s the message I want to get out there,” El Cajon PD Chief Mike Moulton said
In just six years, fentanyl has become the prominent driver of opioid overdose deaths, going from causing about 20% of fatal opioid ODs in 2016 to causing almost all of them — 92% — in 2022
“We’re really trying to get [other departments] to try to adopt that model of responding to these overdoses, taking them seriously and starting the investigation from that night,” Chief Karl Oakman said
A letter states that legislation that decriminalized personal hard drug possession did not take the fentanyl crisis into account as a public health and safety issue
The law makes public possession a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail for the first two offenses and up to a year for additional offenses
Local police and sheriff’s deputies can now refer a substance misuse suspect to a case worker and get that person immediate and long-term help
In the first year after the new approach took effect, only 1% of people who received citations for possessing controlled substances sought help
The new program will allow LEOs to leave people with naloxone kits, particularly when it might be needed in the future
Vine Grove Police Chief Kenneth Mattingly got the idea for the vending machine after a call officers responded to earlier this year
Attorneys for the victim indicated the city was liable because officers did not terminate the pursuit earlier
“Let’s be clear: Selling drugs is not legal. Using drugs out in the open is completely unacceptable,” Mayor London Breed said
Naloxone will be provided by the county’s Department of Public Health at no cost to the district
The department will monitor an officer’s progress and ensure they spend the full month in a rehabilitation program
The vending machine – the first of its kind in the state – holds 54 boxes and is stocked by the detention center
The county has set up free vending machines and sent medical teams with naloxone out to encampments
“The arrest ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me, honestly,” said Thomas Smith
The grant will help officers de-escalate critical situations and help individuals suffering from substance abuse get into an appropriate treatment program
Those found by police with small amounts of street drugs will now face a civil citation instead of an arrest
BART Senior Officer Eric Hofstein has spent years patrolling downtown stations, trying to assist people in crisis
Substance abuse prevention advocates say that increased isolation and a decrease in services is likely to create more relapses
The grant will allow training, timely screening for mental illness and substance abuse, evidence-based treatment and case management
Jocelynn James credits retired officer Terrell Potter with helping to save her from a life of crime
The committee formed at the behest of the National Institutes of Health and CDC published a draft recommending a four-phase distribution plan for the vaccine
