Gloucester Police Department Press Release

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 8, 2015
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003

The Gloucester Initiative Partners with A Road to Recovery

Florida Treatment Facility Takes in its First Gloucester Participant 

GLOUCESTER — Police Chief Leonard Campanello and Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken are pleased to announce A Road to Recovery of Port St. Lucie, Fla. has partnered with the Gloucester Police Department Volunteer ANGEL Initiative. One of the program’s early patients was admitted to A Road to Recovery’s treatment facility this week.

“It is a great privilege to have A Road to Recovery join The Gloucester Initiative and offer their services to patients in need,” Chief Campanello said. “Their commitment will allow us to further our mission of helping addicts get treatment and expand our program beyond Gloucester and Massachusetts.”

The ANGEL program is a shift in a municipal policing policy aimed at ushering heroin and opiate addicts into recovery rather than jail cells and courtrooms.

The policy went into effect on Monday, June 1. Click here to view the official police policy document.

“This is an exciting time for Gloucester as we kick off this revolutionary program to our community,” Mayor Theken said. “We are honored to work with A Road to Recovery, whose assistance will provide value to our residents and all those who are in need of help.”

A Road to Recovery will also grant a full scholarship to cover the entire cost of treatment and care to its first ANGEL participant.

“We greatly applaud the initiative taken by Chief Campanello and the Gloucester Police Department in creating the Angel Program which takes such a forward-thinking approach in addressing the disease of addiction,” said John P Ferraro, President of a Road to Recovery. “It’s truly amazing that people suffering from the disease of addiction are finally able to gain access to the treatment they need to recover by having courage enough to say what may be the most difficult phrase in the English language for an addicted person to say: ‘I Need help!’

“Likewise, I would like to thank Chief Campanello for having the insight to have created such a unique approach to addiction treatment as well as the courage to bring attention to what may be seen by some as an unpopular subject best swept under the proverbial rug.

“Our facility as a whole feels honored and privileged to be given the chance to participate in this unique program and to offer its services to members of the Gloucester community.”

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER INITIATIVE:
Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello proposed a new drug policy on May 5. The Gloucester Initiative gives drug addicts immediate help with detox and recovery without the threat and stigma of arrest. It also seeks to put nasal naloxone in the hands of as many addicts, families, and caregivers as possible to prevent overdose death. Additionally, the plan calls for a portion of federal criminal seizure money to be earmarked for addiction recovery efforts.

The initiative began with a citywide forum and a Facebook post by the Chief, which has now reached nearly 2.2 million people. Click here for more information on the post,

ABOUT A ROAD TO RECOVERY:
Individuals who seek rehabilitation at A Road to Recovery through the ANGEL program will be provided the highest quality, individualized drug addiction treatment. A Road to Recovery provides personalized care in a non-institutional setting, as the organization believes patients respond better to treatment when they are in an environment where they feel safe, comfortable and are assisted with care, respect and dignity.

A Road To Recovery Substance Abuse Treatment Center is located at Port St. Lucie, Fla. For more information call 800-411-9200 or visit them online at https://www.aroadtorecoveryrehab.com

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