For Immediate Release

Thursday, July 20, 2017

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

Community Outreach Initiative Network Joins P.A.A.R.I.

GLOUCESTER — John Rosenthal, Co-founder and Chairman of the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.), and Executive Director Allie Hunter McDade are pleased to announce that the Community Outreach Initiative Network (COIN) has joined P.A.A.R.I. to offer addiction recovery resources to its 10 member communities.

The Ashby, Ayer, Boxborough, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend and Westford Police Departments joined to create COIN in order to provide resources to those suffering from substance abuse disorders and mental health disorders. Similar to the Gloucester ANGEL Initiative model, COIN member departments seek to connect residents with services and treatment options, and divert these individuals from the criminal justice system whenever possible.

Through its partnership with P.A.A.R.I., COIN plans to provide Narcan, training for the group’s clinician, a drop-in center similar to the EB HOPE Program, treatment center contacts and other recovery resources.

“Joining P.A.A.R.I. is an important step toward the success of the COIN program, as we will have access to so many additional resources for the residents in our community who are struggling,” said Pepperell Police Chief David Scott. “I look forward to working with P.A.A.R.I. and the other nine departments involved in COIN to continue fighting the opioid epidemic in our communities.”

“Middlesex County is the largest and most populous county in the Commonwealth and it has not been immune to the opioid epidemic,” said Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan, who also chairs the P.A.A.R.I. Police Council. “We are proud to continue consistently adding to our list of law enforcement partners and resources for those who are struggling, and we sincerely welcome COIN as a P.A.A.R.I. partner.”

“Partnering with P.A.A.R.I. will offer COIN the opportunity to provide even more recovery services to our member towns and residents who need help,” said Boxborough Police Chief Warren B. Ryder. “I am looking forward to working with P.A.A.R.I., and our department is committed to doing everything we can to ensure this partnership is successful.”

“If it were not for COIN and the new partnership with P.A.A.R.I., smaller towns like us would not be able provide vital assistance to people afflicted with addiction or other mental health disorders,” said Ayer Police Chief William A. Murray. “Chief Scott’s vision to bring 10 towns together to make all of us stronger has been taken to another level by joining P.A.A.R.I. I cannot thank Chief Scott enough for his leadership, TADS, North Middlesex Community Cares and others for their generosity and support, and P.A.A.R.I. for seeing the value of our partnership.”

“We are so pleased to welcome an additional 10 law enforcement partners to P.A.A.R.I. through our work with the COIN group,” said Hunter McDade. “These departments are providing vital resources to their member communities that they may have not otherwise had access to, and we are honored to work together in the fight against addiction.”

###