Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus and District Attorney David M. Hoovler joined the Legislature on Thursday, August 1st to announce that the County has provided $10,000 in funding to the Orange County Police Chief’s Association for training, promotional materials and marketing efforts for the Hope Not Handcuffs Hudson Valley community-based volunteer program.
Hope Not Handcuffs, part of the Tri-County Partnership coalition, has been effective in curbing the opioid and narcotic epidemic. Seventy-two people in Orange County have died this year due to opioid overdoses.
“I’m pleased to join the Police Chief’s Association and the Legislature in supporting this valuable program,” Neuhaus said. “We in County government are doing all that we can to assist people who suffer from addiction and to help their loved ones as well. It’s the County’s goal to be a part of the solution to this national issue. Working together, we can help protect our children and our communities from the dangers of addiction.”
Hope Not Handcuffs is an initiative aimed at bringing law enforcement and community organizations together to find viable treatment options for individuals seeking help reducing dependency on any substance including heroin, prescription drugs, and alcohol. Anyone with a substance abuse issue can go to a participating law enforcement agency and ask for help. They will be greeted with compassion and respect and an Angel volunteer will be called to assist until a treatment option is found.
Angels 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 will be arranged.
Hope Not Handcuffs was launched in February of 2017 by Families Against Narcotics (FAN) and is aimed at bringing law enforcement and community organizations together in an effort to find viable treatment options for individuals seeking assistance. Hope Not Handcuffs has worked with approximately 79 law enforcement agencies nationwide, helping more than 2,800 men and women connect to treatment.
Hope Not Handcuffs was introduced in Orange County in January of 2019. Ten Orange County police departments are now part of the program.
“We expect this program to be utilized across the state in the coming years under the Governor’s diversion program,” said Orange County Legislator Rob Sassi, Chairman of the Human Services and the Opioid Addiction Committees. “The Orange County Legislature, along with the County Executive and Department of Mental Health Commissioner Darcie Miller will remain on the forefront of this important issue. We look forward to collaborating with local law enforcement on this initiative.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, here are some of the resources are available:
Hope Not Handcuffs Hudson Valley: 833-428-4673 (HOPE), tccpartnership@gmail.com
Orange County Department of Mental Health: 845-291-2600 or opioidresources@orangecountygov.com
Orange County Crisis Call Center: 1-800-832-1200, 24 hours a day
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) of Orange County: 845-294-9000, www.adacinfo.com.
Mental Health Association of Orange County: 1-800-832-1200 (24 hours/7 days a week), www.mhorangeny.com.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
For more information about the signs and symptoms of abuse, go to combatheroin.ny.gov.
Free Narcan training is available in Orange County. Narcan, also known as Naloxone, is a medication that can potentially save someone’s life. It reverses the effects of opioid medication, including extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, or loss of consciousness. For information about Narcan training, contact the County’s Department of Mental Health at 291-2600.
The State Department of Health’s N-CAP program assists with Narcan co-payments, making the drug available at low or no cost at local pharmacies. For more information about N-CAP, call 800-542-2437 or log onto www.health.ny.gov/overdose.
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