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Volunteers step up as opioid crisis rages on

Posted 8/13/21

MONTICELLO –– According to District Attorney Meagan Galligan, volunteers have been coming out of the woodwork to get involved with Hope Not Handcuffs.

Galligan gave an update on the …

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Volunteers step up as opioid crisis rages on

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MONTICELLO –– According to District Attorney Meagan Galligan, volunteers have been coming out of the woodwork to get involved with Hope Not Handcuffs.

Galligan gave an update on the program at the County Legislature’s meeting of the Public Safety and Law Enforcement Committee last Thursday.

“Hope Not Handcuffs is actually thriving,” said Galligan. “It’s something that we were eagerly anticipating. We’ve had three successful intakes through the program in the last couple of weeks. So we think that that’s a very good sign of progress on that front.”

Hope Not Handcuffs, which was originally founded in Michigan, has helped connect 4,800 participants with resources and treatment they need. It has also seen success across the state.

As the Democrat previously reported, a partnership was announced last month between the District Attorney’s Office, Sullivan County Drug Task Force and local law enforcement agencies to implement the pre-arrest diversion program locally.

The program offers those battling substance abuse disorders treatment before their addiction leads them into the criminal justice system.

As of last Thursday’s meeting, the program had 18 local volunteers registered.

Volunteers or “Angels” are people who help participants complete paperwork and place a call to the appropriate provider for treatment assistance.

Meetings are safe and always take place at a participating police station. Once a treatment option is found, transportation is arranged.

Volunteers pick their “on call” days and hours, after they have completed training.

Those interested in becoming an “Angel” can visit tricountycommunitypartnership.org/hope-not-handcuffs.
Galligan added that the Sheriff’s Office has offered their training facility to Hope Not Handcuffs Hudson Valley Program Director Annette Kahrs, to hold a volunteer training sometime in September.

Staying on the opioid front, in his report in the same committee meeting last Thursday, County Coroner Albee Bockman announced that there was only one overdose death in the past month.

But he told the legislators in attendance not to get overly excited about that number because he said on the EMS side, they continue to answer overdose calls almost on a daily basis.

Bockman said the stats are in for overdose deaths for 2019 and 2020. He said there were 71,130 overdose deaths in 2019, and for 2020, that number increased to 92,000 and change.

“That's an increase of almost 30 percent in one year,” said Bockman, “and that exceeds the motor vehicle accident fatalities that has dominated the deaths in our country for decades. We have over 25,000 more overdose deaths than motor vehicle accident deaths. So the pandemic of that issue continues.”

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  • lhfc1563

    If you go by what the DA has been saying you get the impression that ‘hopenothandcuffs’ was for when you got arrested for a crime. Caught first, then before you do time you get help.

    This program will not be for everyone. This is not a “Get out of jail free” program, but there are certain circumstances in which a person will not be charged criminally for possessing illicit drugs within the context of this program. So we know this doesn’t include Pot.

    If a person comes into the Police Department requesting help and they have illicit drugs on their person, those drugs will be secured for destruction and the person will not be charged, provided they conform with the program or they will be charged!

    This program sounds like the old days of just walking into the hospital or treatment center, like Daytop, and got help when they wanted it and went to AA or NA meetings. It’s just having you go to the police to do it now. You bring 5+ days clothes with you, your medications (maybe that you’re abusing) and your Insurance information if you have or welfare will pay. If you have insurance you get treatment they dictate (pay for).

    How much of this program being covered by taxes? Who is getting paid?

    Since Feb 01, 2017, 6026 participants have received help. It doesn’t say how many relapsed nor does it say how many were turned away nor how many of 6026 finished the program? So 1340 a year gets helped while the OD death rate went from 47,600 in 2017 up to almost 50,000 in 2019 which has increased to 93,000 in 2020 a year , DEAD!

    Friday, August 13, 2021 Report this