WORCESTER, Mass. - Worcester County police departments have a new tool to help address the opioid crisis. They’re partnering with the district attorney's office to have recovery coaches assist officers with well-being checks following overdoses.
"When someone overdoses and survives, they get a knock on the door within 24 to 48 hours from a recovery coach and a plain clothes police officer,” said Joseph Early Jr., the Worcester County district attorney. “Asking them if they want services, if they want help."
What You Need To Know
- Recovery coaches are helping police follow-up to overdoses thanks to a partnership with the Worcester County DA’s office
- Six full time coaches have been hired as part of the program
- Forming connections and making people feel comfortable is important for recovery
- Worcester County police followed-up on more than 600 overdoses last year
Six full-time coaches have been hired as part of the program, which is funded by a federal grant the DA’s office received in 2020.
For the coaches, forming connections and making people feel comfortable is the most important part of helping with recovery.
"We’re caring for the whole person, mentally, emotionally and physically,” said Sonia Thomas, a recovery coach with Community Program for Addiction Recovery. “When they are ready, they can remember to come back to where they were treated with respect and humanity."
"It's not only treatment, not only, 'we'll get you to the hospital,' but we sit there and we connect with people,” said Matthew Gear, a recovery coach with Family Continuity. “I always say the opposite of addiction is connection, and that's kind of what we do here, building connections as we speak."
According to Early, local police followed up with more than 600 overdoses last year. He hopes the collaboration will enable everyone to get the help they need.
"It's going to mean more follow-up visits,” said Early. “It's going to be more warm hugs. It's going to be more caring and giving people, hope to allow them to get into recovery."