SULLIVAN COUNTY – Extending their helping hand to individuals struggling with substance use disorder, Hope Not Handcuffs continues to highlight the impact and accessibility it brings to Sullivan County.

A program of the Tri-County Community Partnership, Hope Not Handcuffs helps individuals find detox, outpatient and inpatient treatment, in addition to coaching and providing recovery resources. The program can be accessed by phoning a dedicated helpline, walking into a participating law enforcement agency requesting help, or submitting an online request.

“Our mission is to navigate those obstacles so that all the person struggling has to say is ‘yes, I am ready,’ and we do the rest,” explained Program Director Greg Metakes.

Said obstacles can range from transportation and medical needs to insurance issues; all barriers that can hamper access to treatment for affected individuals.

The process immediately starts as soon as an individual seeks help. The program’s helpline is contacted by dispatch or law enforcement, and a trained volunteer (called an “Angel”) is dispatched to help with paperwork and initial screenings. Then coordinators work behind the scenes to secure placement in a treatment facility as well as arrange transportation.

“Usually, we can get them into treatment within an hour and a half,” explained Metakes.

The program has seen significant expansion in recent years, such as offering a Quick Response Team (QRT) that was launched in collaboration with local law enforcement with the goal of quickly reaching at-risk individuals.

In this QRT, a police officer and a peer recovery coach follow up with individuals within 24 to 72 hours after an overdose or referral is reported. The initiative started with the Liberty Police Department in 2023, expanded to Fallsburg in 2024, and has since evolved into a countywide operation. The program also has a presence in the Sullivan County Jail, where staff meet with individuals before they are released to offer resources and coordinate treatment, acknowledging the high overdose risk after incarceration.

‘A bridge between public safety and public health’

The program’s work is making a mark, as Village of Liberty Police Chief Steven D’Agata stated that the program has coincided with a significant decline in local overdose deaths. Looking at data for 2024 and 2025, Sullivan County has seen a 56 percent reduction in the overdose death rate from 2020 to 2025, outpacing declines seen in New York State and nationwide.

“It has fundamentally shifted our orientation,” D’Agata noted, detailing how law enforcement’s role is now beyond a strictly enforcement-based approach. “Now our officers understand they are often the first point of contact for someone who may be at the lowest point of their life, and that contact matters.”

Looking back, D’Agata noted how responses to substance use often focused on arrests or emergency stabilization. Utilizing programs like Hope Not Handcuffs and the QRT has allowed officers to work toward connecting individuals with long-term support and treatment.

“What we have built here is a bridge between public safety and public health,” D’Agata stated.

Citing the small communities found in Sullivan County, D’Agata emphasized the importance of local partnerships, noting that such communities cannot always wait for outside intervention.

“When I first became Police Chief, it was clear that enforcement alone was not moving the needle. People were dying,” D’Agata said. “Partnering with Hope Not Handcuffs … was a recognition that our community needed us to do more than respond. It needed us to help people find a way out [of addiction].”

‘Strong advocacy and proven results’

Collaboration remains a key part of the program’s mission, reflected in partnerships spanning law enforcement, hospitals, treatment facilities, the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office and local support organizations.

D’Agata recently traveled to Washington, D.C. with national partners to meet with members of Congress, advocating for continued investment in police-led deflection programs and secured the release of federal funding.

This funding opportunity allows for awards of up to $1,000,000 over a 36-month period for rural jurisdictions. Sullivan County will be applying under this competitive solicitation, and final award determinations including specific funding amounts for programs are expected in mid-July.

“The release of this funding reflects both strong advocacy and proven results,” said District Attorney Brian Conaty. “Through our Quick Response Team and partnership with Hope Not Handcuffs, individuals are met with support, resources and a pathway to recovery.”

Community members are also increasingly turning to law enforcement for assistance, not just to report a crime.

“That does not happen in a community that does not trust its police department,” D’Agata noted. “When we invest in people during their most vulnerable moments, we get that trust back.”

‘Anyone can be a participant’

Even as the program continues to grow, challenges remain, particularly around funding and public awareness. Metakes noted how difficult it is to learn that someone needed help but was unaware that Hope Not Handcuffs existed.

He also addressed a common misconception about the program—that individuals need to be involved in the legal system to participate.

“Anyone can be a participant,” Metakes stressed. “The handcuffs represent the handcuffs of addiction.”

Still reluctant to take the helping hand? Metakes assured that the program is always available when individuals are ready.

“All you have to do is call or walk in and we will be there to support you,” Metakes affirmed.