For Immediate Release

Friday, Dec. 2, 2016

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

P.A.A.R.I. Members Travel to Michigan to Meet with Leaders on Expanding Addiction Recovery Services

GLOUCESTER — Allie Hunter McDade, Executive Director of the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.), is pleased to announce that P.A.A.R.I. Chairman John Rosenthal and Dixon, Ill. Police Chief Danny Langloss traveled to Michigan yesterday to meet with State Police, who joined P.A.A.R.I. earlier this year. In addition, they met with members of the state’s Families Against Narcotics (FAN), who will be implementing “Hope Not Handcuffs” in Macomb County.

Michigan State Police joined P.A.A.R.I. this fall, implementing an Angel Program to assist those with substance use disorders. Currently, the post in Gaylord has been established as a drop-in location, where residents can work with Angel volunteers to be placed into a treatment recovery program. Over the next several months, additional locations will be rolled out for a total of 30 barracks.

To assist with the startup of their Angel Program, P.A.A.R.I. issued a $5,000 grant to State Police and provided them with 150 free doses of 4 mg nasal Narcan. P.A.A.R.I. will also provide free doses of Narcan to partner police departments and the Sheriff’s Office in Macomb County.

“Members of the Michigan State Police believe it is important to focus on both enforcement and prevention when it comes to addressing the country’s heroin epidemic,” said Director of the Michigan State Police Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue. “In October, we implemented the Angel Program at our Gaylord Post and we look forward to rolling out this life-saving program statewide over the next couple of years.”

On Thursday, Dec. 1, while in Michigan, Rosenthal and Chief Langloss joined a group of speakers at Operation RX’s “Community in Crisis — Macomb County’s Response,” a conference focused on providing education and awareness on statistics, trends, outcomes, and a call to action in relation to opiate abuse.

Rosenthal and Chief Langloss also met with Hope Not Handcuffs, a collaborative effort between FAN, Macomb County police departments, EMS, and other organizations to help those struggling with the disease of addiction. Those who come to a designated police department seeking help will work with a team of Angels to be placed into a recovery treatment center.

Organizers plan to launch Hope Not Handcuffs next month, and to make the program a success, are looking for more than 150 Angel volunteers to help with paperwork and to provide compassionate support until a treatment option is found for participants.

“It was an honor to be able to speak at this conference and share the successes of P.A.A.R.I. with those in Michigan who are at the forefront of changing the stigma of addiction and implementing programs for recovery in the state,” Rosenthal said. “We look forward to working closely with FAN and our partner police departments to assist them with launching Hope Not Handcuffs in January.”

Key community members in Macomb County, along with Rosenthal and Chief Langloss, spoke with Judge Linda Davis to discuss the logistics of Hope Not Handcuffs. Additionally, to help further the program, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office and area chiefs will be joining P.A.A.R.I. and will now have access to a nationwide network of treatment centers to offer recovery services to program participants.

“We are so honored for P.A.A.R.I. to come to Michigan and assist us in this incredible initiative,” said Katie Donovan, Executive Vice President of FAN. “We have an incredible amount of support from our community partners, as this disease takes a village to fight it.”

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Hope Not Handcuffs team, please visit the group online, here. Those with questions can call 586-438-8500 or send an email to fan@familiesagainstnarcotics.org.

About FAN:

Founded in 2007, Families Against Narcotics originated in Fraser, Mich. Eight years ago, close to 100 people gathered at a town hall meeting to discuss the recent deaths of several young people from heroin overdoses. The group united under one common mission: to change the face of addiction and erase the stigma of addiction. FAN members work to raise awareness about addiction and support those struggling with the disease. Today, there are 16 chapters throughout the state and are expanding nationwide.

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