Massachusetts Town Says It Will Stop Arresting Drug Addicts, Get Them Medical Help Instead

Posted by Alec Cope | May 11, 2015 |

Massachusetts Town Says It Will Stop Arresting Drug Addicts, Get Them Medical Help Instead

Source: Alternet

The town of Gloucester, Massachusetts took a radical step this week. Its police department has decided to be the first in the country to categorically refuse to arrest drug addicts. Instead, it is inviting them to come to the department, where they will then help them find medical treatment.

The police chief, a former narcotics officer named Leonard Campanello, said he believes they cannot reduce the supply of illegal drugs, but they can reduce the demand. “We wanted the police department to be one of the safe havens you can walk in when you’re ready, and we don’t want to waste that moment, when the addict is ready,” he said.

The department’s Facebook post announcing the new policy has over 20,000 Facebook “Likes.” Campanello writes, “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. 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.”

Watch WCVB Channel 5’s report on the new policy:

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Alec Cope

After years of research and a series of unpleasant experiences concerning the current child protection services system, Alec Cope decided to combat the cancerous corruption through information. Freelance writing articles as a form of protest and distributing them throughout his former high-school and local area, Alec struck special chords with whomever he was in contact with. Alec has been involved in activism such as sit down protests as well as Idle No More gatherings. Being independent for the majority of his time, Alec became a member of the WeAreChange family to assist one of the organizations that inspired him to become active in the first place. With a larger platform and positive support Alec has committed the majority of his time to research, writing, and maintaining social media with the goal to continue expanding the awakening sweeping throughout all levels of society. Growing up within a rural area in Northern Michigan as well as being a native American descendant, Alec is seeking to expose environmental abuse in his state as well as globally. A high-school dropout, Alec chases his passion for writing and empowering individuals while showing any isolated person that they too can overcome the odds with a community that will support them. Alec lives in the lower peninsula of Michigan near Kalamazoo. https://www.facebook.com/alec.cope.75 alecope8@gmail.com https://www.twitter.com/AlecCope http://www.pinterest.com/aleccope75/

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