For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

First Step Behavioral Health Partners with P.A.A.R.I. to Offer Recovery Services to Participants

NEWTON and POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello and John Rosenthal, co-founders of The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.), are pleased to announce that First Step Behavioral Health has joined the team of recovery centers assisting addicts.

“The growing list of treatment centers who wish to partner with P.A.A.R.I. on this life-saving initiative allows us to help even more communities who are struggling with addiction,” Chief Campanello said. “We are thankful that First Step Behavioral Health has joined us in this fight and we look forward to a long and successful relationship.”

Over the summer, Chief Campanello and businessman John Rosenthal launched P.A.A.R.I. — a nonprofit organization created in response to Gloucester Police Department’s ANGEL Initiative. Rather than arrest their way out of the problem of drug addiction, partnering police departments place those who come to them for help into treatment programs. As partnerships with treatment centers continue to grow, so does P.A.A.R.I.’s ability to support police departments who want to assist their communities in saving lives.

“First Step Behavioral Health is excited and proud to announce their partnership with P.A.A.R.I.,” said CEO of First Step Behavioral Health Gus Crocco, LCSW. “This partnership gives First Step a new platform to assist those struggling with addiction and introduce them to recovery; which we believe is the greatest gift a person can receive. It is truly an honor to be part of such an incredible initiative.”

First Step Behavioral Health offers a wide array of services including detox, a 70-bed inpatient facility, and sober living houses which provide an open-ended treatment plan for many clients. The staff at First Step believe treatment should take as long as a client needs, and most patients end up staying for six months to a year. 

“Thanks to treatment centers like First Step Behavioral Health, we are able to continue our mission fighting this disease and saving lives,” Rosenthal said. “P.A.A.R.I. is pleased to welcome them on board and we look forward to a successful partnership.”

About First Step Behavioral Health:

First Step Behavioral Health is a licensed and Joint Commission Accredited dual-diagnosis long term care facility. Alcohol and drug treatment programs provide clients with a full range of support and services including medical and psychiatric analysis, individual therapy, small and large group therapy, family therapy, and gender group therapy. The residential treatment program and partial hospitalization program provide 24/7 care and supervision with apartment style housing and shared living quarters. The alcohol and drug addiction treatment center also provides intensive outpatient treatment, sober living and aftercare services.

The support for clients does not end when a patient is discharged. First Step Behavioral Health supports active participation in the community surrounding the treatment center, and also provides an Aftercare/Alumni program which promotes a home-like atmosphere with continued support from the community and clinical staff.

About P.A.A.R.I.:

P.A.A.R.I. was started to support local police departments as they work with opioid addicts. Rather than arrest our way out of the problem of drug addiction, P.A.A.R.I. committed police departments:

• Encourage opioid drug users to seek recovery
• Help distribute life saving opioid blocking drugs to prevent and treat overdoses
• Connect people suffering with opioid addiction with treatment programs and facilities
• Provide resources to other police departments and communities that want to do more to fight the opioid addiction epidemic

P.A.A.R.I. was created by Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello and John Rosenthal to bridge the gap between the police department and opioid addicts seeking recovery. Since its founding, more than 34 police departments in nine states have joined as partners with the initiative.

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