Hope Not Handcuffs coming to Monroe to help with substance abuse
The Monroe Department of Public Safety is embarking on a new partnership that offers aid to members of the community who are suffering from substance abuse disorder and addiction.
The department is teaming up with the nonprofit organization Families Against Narcotics (FAN) and the Hope Not Handcuffs initiative. The program is a collaborative effort between FAN, law enforcement and community organizations to find viable treatment options for individuals seeking help to reduce their dependence on prescription medication, alcohol, heroin or other drugs.
The program started in 2017 and has grown quickly in scope with over 130 police agencies and partners across Michigan and over 60 in New York. The Monroe Department of Public Safety is the first agency in Monroe County to join Hope Not Handcuffs. The Michigan State Police offers a similar Angel Program through its posts, including the Monroe Post.
The Monroe City Council approved the partnership in a unanimous vote earlier this week. Director of Public Safety Chad Tolstedt has been a vocal supporter of the program since being introduced to it earlier this summer.
"I thought back to some of my times over the years having dealt with many of these things," said Tolstedt. "I remember being in a hotel room with a young man who desperately looked down at me when he was going through an overdose and asked, 'Can you help me?' And at that time I remember feeling a little bit of helplessness."
Individuals struggling with drug or alcohol addiction can take advantage of the program through both the city's police and fire departments. When contacted, Hope Not Handcuffs will send out volunteers called "angels" to assist anybody in need at no cost, including arranging proper treatment and transportation, if needed.
Assistance also is available by calling 833-202-HOPE between 8 a.m.-10 p.m. or through the program's website at www.familiesagainstnarcotics.org/hopenothandcuffs.
"Instead of putting them in handcuffs, instead of putting them in jail, we will be able to help facilitate them getting some help," said Tolstedt. "…We feel this will be a great benefit for our citizens and our department as a whole."
Kim Baffo, director of Hope Not Handcuffs, presented the program to the city council during a work session meeting earlier this month. Safaa Elmessiri, Hope Not Handcuff's Southeast Michigan regional coordinator, reintroduced the agenda item to the council on Monday.
Elmessiri said the program has helped over 10,000 people since it began. On average, the program handles about 1,200 calls and assists over 170 individuals into treatment every month.
"This program has been nothing but helpful to individuals suffering from substance abuse disorder and alcohol misuse," said Elmessiri. "Every week we have around 40-50 individuals who have received recovery treatment. Whether that's treatment, detox, peer recovery coaching, we have many different programs that we can refer them to. … All these people need is a little bit of help, support, and compassion as well."
Baffo said the program typically launches in a community anywhere between 3-6 months after it has been approved. Hope Not Handcuffs will schedule trainings with the police and fire departments on substance abuse disorder and how the program works.
Hope Not Handcuffs aims to make the treatment process more accessible, Baffo said.
"We navigate it with them because it's a complicated system," she said. "That's our goal is navigating it. Most people aren't feeling very well, they're frustrated. Or, if it's a family member and it's their first time, most don't even know who to call. So, we take the wheel and we take that burden."
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Hope Not Handcuffs coming to Monroe to help with substance abuse
