A program meant to help people struggling with drug addiction has expanded statewide, the Michigan State Police said.
The Michigan State Police Angel Program, a pre-arrest diversion program for people struggling with drug addiction, is now being offered at all 30 state police posts in Michigan.
Anyone seeking drug treatment can go to any MSP post during business hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, without fear of arrest, the Michigan State Police said.
The MSP Angel Program is modeled after a similar initiative developed in 2015 by the Gloucester, Massachusetts, Police Department, and allows someone with a drug addiction to walk into a state police post to seek help for their addiction without the fear of arrest or investigation, the Michigan State Police said.
If accepted into the program, the person is guided through a professional substance abuse assessment and intake process to ensure proper treatment placement.
"Angel" volunteers, members of the local community, support the individual during the process and provide transportation to a treatment facility.
"The opioid epidemic is real and we all need to do our part to stop it," Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP, said in a news release. "More people in Michigan die from drug overdoses than car crashes, and the Angel Program is one way the Michigan State Police is helping to reduce drug demand and serve those struggling with this deadly addiction."
The Angel Program first launched in October 2016 at the Gaylord Post. Since then it has expanded across the state, most recently becoming operational in metro Detroit.
As of this month, 37 people have been admitted to treatment through the program, MSP said.
"The addiction epidemic is impacting every community in our state and having the Angel Program available across Michigan will help families struggling with addiction have more second chances and fewer funerals," Lt. Gov. Brian Calley said in the news release.
The Angel Program is made possible thanks to a partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans, private donations and a grant from P.A.A.R.I. (the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative). P.A.A.R.I. is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support the Gloucester Police addiction initiatives, aid other police departments to implement similar programs, and foster a dialogue around the unique opportunity for police departments to take direct action against the disease of drug addiction in their communities.
Anyone interested in learning more about the MSP Angel Program can visit www.michigan.gov/AngelProgram.
#1: GrandIsland To: Deckard (#0)
Mother Nature will do what we as a society are too WEAK with compassion to do... it's called overdosing after repeated poor decisions.
GrandIsland posted on 2017-12-19 07:10:17 Reply Private Reply
#2: Deckard To: GrandIsland (#1)
Hmmm....let me see - should I believe the rantings of a rabid drug warrior?
Nah - I'll stick with the opinions of doctors, health care providers and other experts.
Deckard posted on 2017-12-19 07:12:54 Reply Private Reply
#3: Gatlin To: Deckard, GrandIsland (#2)
Of course your will stick with only those opinions that you cherry picked from various pro-drug publications and paid propagandists to agree 100% with.
Why do you believe or disbelieve rantings or opinions anyway? What’s wrong with only believing facts? Nothing, right? So, do your own homework and adequate research to “get the facts, Man….just the facts.” Don’t always rely on what others say.
Gatlin posted on 2017-12-19 07:30:08 Reply Private Reply
#4: Deckard To: Gatlin, GrandIsland (#3)
This program is working to get people OFF of drugs.
But the two of you want to keep doing the same thing over and over again - jailing addicts instead of doing something to end the problem.
I'm sure you clowns would much rather see a drug user caged for life than to see him get clean and become a productive member of society.
Which begs the question - what the heck is wrong with you?
Deckard posted on 2017-12-19 07:38:36 Reply Private Reply
#5: Gatlin To: Deckard (#4)
I did not say it wasn’t working. I said stop believing that others say it does. Do your own research and use it to back up your claims and charges. Stop with your stupid copy and past “Simon said” shit.
I have seen the research studies....and yes, “those” studies do show the programs are working. Then of course more drug addicts read they are working and more people pay more money to get into the programs. Do the words “vicious cycle” mean anything to you?
As I studied the research, I could not find who paid for the studies. Truth be known, anyone can find a number of different companies to pay a few million dollars to go do a research study on the same subject to prove their thesis....and it will happen.
Suddenly you have a number of research studies coming out at one time proclaiming such great things, like for instance....”marijuana cures everything.” Then people like you pick up the clarion and issue the call for everyone to join in on the chorus singing the glorious praises of something you believe in want to promote so others will also believe it.
That’s the real world, Deckard.
As a person who challenges so many things, it is ironic that you accept so many other things as factual....if those are things you already believe.
Gatlin posted on 2017-12-19 08:20:03 Reply Private Reply
#6: Deckard To: Gatlin (#5)
Get a hold of yourself princess - I copied and pasted an article.
Are you now going to whine about that?
Suddenly you have a number of research studies coming out at one time proclaiming such great things, like for instance....”marijuana cures everything.”
Liar - no one here is claiming that.
Deckard posted on 2017-12-19 08:26:40 Reply Private Reply
#7: Gatlin To: Deckard (#6)
That’s fine.
I guess.
Since that’s all you can ever do.
You never have anything you can personally contribute to the discussion afterwards.
Gatlin posted on 2017-12-19 08:45:45 Reply Private Reply
#8: misterwhite To: Deckard (#0)
So in the entire state of Michigan, over 14 months, 37 people have gone into the program.
Two questions. One, how many did so voluntarily, without threats or coercion? Two, how many of those 37 dropped out of the program?
Liberals are great at setting up and announcing new programs to help people. "Hey, look at me! Look want I did with your money!" Then they slink away without telling us the results.
Case in point -- the Head Start Program. Started in 1965 and currently costing the federal government $8.1 billion per year (plus local costs), "studies failed to produce an academic or political consensus about the program's effects".
In other words, a complete failure and a waste of taxpayer money.
misterwhite posted on 2017-12-19 10:15:54 Reply Private Reply
#9: GrandIsland To: Deckard (#4)
1) No it doesn't. The majority of people reuse... and you know it, you filthy lying scumbag.
2) The best way to keep a dirty WEAK addicted SHEEP from SLAVING TO THE POISON... is to lock them up in a sterile environment. It's called prison.
GrandIsland posted on 2017-12-19 17:02:06 Reply Private Reply