Andy Rosen, Boston Globe - Police in Gloucester say they will no longer charge drug users who ask officers for help with their addiction, a measure that local officials said is part of a “revolutionary” shift in their battle against the epidemic abuse of opioids and other substances.
Authorities vowed not to arrest addicts who walk into police stations and surrender their drugs or paraphernalia, and said they would instead walk those users through detox and recovery options.
Gloucester police also said they have made the overdose treatment nasal Narcan available without prescription at local pharmacies. The department will pay the cost of the treatment with money seized from drug dealers.
In a statement, Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello made clear that he wants to treat addiction as the disease that he considers it to be. He plans to travel to Washington, D.C., to advocate for his approach.
“I’ve never arrested a tobacco addict, nor have I ever seen one turned down for help when they develop lung cancer, whether or not they have insurance,” he said. “The reasons for the difference in care between a tobacco addict and an opiate addict is stigma and money. Petty reasons to lose a life.” In suburbs, heroin takes deathly toll
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