On February 14, 2023, The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) hosted a virtual statewide convening among Massachusetts law enforcement agencies. This convening was designed to allow Massachusetts PAARI partners to connect with like-minded agencies in implementing non-arrest programming for those with substance use disorder.
The convening began with Zoe Grover-Scicchitano, Executive Director of PAARI, recognizing that the state of Massachusetts has been leading the effort in how to properly build resources to combat the opioid epidemic. To date, PAARI has more than 130 law enforcement agency partners from Massachusetts participating in PAARI model deflection and diversion programs.
Following the recognition, Zoe gave a brief overview of PAARI and described the Opioid Response Network (ORN). ORN provides local, experienced consultants in prevention, treatment and recovery to communities and organizations to help address the opioid crisis..
These discussions were followed by Brittney Garrett, Director of Public Safety Training and Outreach at PAARI, sharing PAARI’s Fentanyl Test Strip and Narcan resources. PAARI has these resources readily available for Massachusetts partners, and wanted to emphasize the importance of implementing these resources in deflection programming. Lt. Sarko Gergerian, founding member of the Community and Law Enforcement Assisted Recovery Program (CLEAR) at Winthrop Police Department and Health Department, and Natashia Patricio, Project Coordinator for the LEAD program at New Bedford Police Department, spoke to the efficacy of these resources when implemented in their respective communities.
“Listen, I have to amplify this. Providing these resources to vulnerable populations leads with the message that they matter, that we do not want them to die. That’s why we are here.” said Lt. Gergerian when speaking to the efficacy of Fentanyl Test Strip distribution.
“If individuals we come in contact with are not ready to stop using, we have tools in our tool kits, like Fentanyl Test Strips and Narcan, to give them. It not only helps them, but acts as an engagement tool for us.” says Natashia. “We also hand out Fentanyl Test Strips to concerned family members.”
The call came to a close as attendees spoke about troubles they have faced in their own communities when implementing their programming and offered advice to others. The convening was attended by 47 professionals from the below organizations.
- Addiction Resource Council
- Bay State Community Services
- Beverly Police Department
- Boston Medical
- Boston Police Department
- Boxborough Police Department
- Bridgewater State University Police Department
- Canton Police Department
- Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance
- Concord Police Department
- Everett Fire Department
- Gloucester Police Department
- Health Resources in Action/Helpline
- Holyoke Police Department
- Island Health Care
- Kingston Police Department
- Lakeville Police Department
- Learn To Cope
- Massachusetts Dept of Public Health
- Massachusetts Environmental Police
- Massachusetts Trial Court
- Methuen Police Department
- New Bedford Police
- New England HIDTA
- Newburyport PD/ECO
- Norwell Police Department
- O2SL and QRT National
- Pembroke and Fuller Hospitals
- Plymouth County Outreach
- Plymouth Police Department
- RIZE Massachusetts Foundation
- Salem Police Department
- Self and EVAWN
- Sharon Police Department
- SSRE
- Sturbridge Police Department
- Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department
- Taunton Police Dept.
- The Pettengill House, Inc
- Town of Arlington
- Watertown Police
- Westford Police Department
- Westminster Police Department
- Winthrop Public Safety & Health Department
The next Massachusetts Convening will be held on May 16th at 12:00pm EST. The agenda will include a status update on Community Behavioral Health Centers.
