Combatting the Opioid Crisis: Rehabilitation First

Let's focus on reducing the rate of long-term addiction to opiates and other drugs in our communities.

• Expand access to treatment for opiate addiction and expand access to overdose reversal drugs like Narcan/naloxone. Prioritize rehabilitation.

• Support programs that divert individuals with mental health, substance abuse, or developmental disability issues from traditional arrests. Programs would include the capacity to:

  • Serve as jail diversion by managing referrals of individuals taken into custody by law enforcement who believe (or based on prior contacts known) the individual has mental health issues.

  • Assess and address the mental health needs(s) of the individual referred by law enforcement or at subsequent points of the justice/custody process and provide the individual with ongoing support services.

  • Serve as a non-crisis resource center for individuals and families seeking assistance in dealing with mental health issues.