'Hope Not Handcuffs' Program Goes Into Effect At Macomb County Police Stations

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — Starting today, a revolutionary new treatment/recovery program called 'Hope Not Handcuffs,' designed to combat the county's explosive opioid epidemic, is going into effect at every single police department in Macomb County, including the Sheriff's Department, as well as the Michigan State Police North post, Harper Woods and Ferndale Police Departments, according to a press release.

Under the new Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I), in partnership with Families Against Narcotics (F.A.N.), anyone suffering from an opioid addiction can walk into any of the aforementioned police stations, and automatically receive help - without the fear of being prosecuted or thrown in jail.

That's because instead of so-called 'arresting away' people with an opioid addiction, the participating police departments will match sufferers seeking help with one of the program's 200 volunteer 'angels,' who will then connect them with recovery support i.e. an addiction center. Post-treatment, the recovered addict will be referred to support services to help them continue their drug-free life.

Both Macomb County and state officials praised the new program. Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said in a statement, "This initiative with law enforcement is a positive step in helping those suffering from addiction and making our communities safe."

District Court Judge Linda Davis, president of F.A.N., said in a statement, “We have seen first-hand the devastating effect that substance abuse has had in Macomb County. This community-wide partnership will better connect our residents with the help they need and provide options for recovery that have been tough to find before.”

And Lt. Gov Brian Calley, who chaired Michigan’s Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Task Force, said in a statement, "Michigan’s addiction epidemic continues to hurt families and claim lives all across our state. While efforts to deal with this problem is underway at the state level, community partnerships like Hope Not Handcuffs give local residents a new lifeline and show just how much the community cares about the well-being of its people.”

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