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“MorePowerfulNC” Campaign
AG Stein and Secretary Cohen's work to address the opioid epidemic
Opioid-related overdose deaths in NC have doubled in the past 10 years alone, and the problem continues to grow. Attorney General Stein and Secretary Cohen created the MorePowerfulNC campaign to address the epidemic, outlining real, actionable steps for the safe storage, use and disposal of pain medications, as well as resources for finding treatment and recovery support. In recent years, law enforcement authorities across North Carolina and around the country have developed programs that direct low-level drug offenders into drug treatment and other services. The campaign website lists PTACC as a source of information on pre-arrest diversion programs. Learn about the initiative.
Illinois Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council
IL Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council Committee: 2020 State Opioid Action Plan (SOAP)
Annual recommendations from Illinois’ opioid response committee include addressing “deflection/pre-arrest and diversion program implementation barriers in order to increase capacity of these programs statewide."
In Strategy #7, the Committee recommends that:
- the State examine the role Medicaid can play to increase access to treatment, including funding work to engage justice-involved individuals with OUD, such as street outreach and early intervention;
- community-level connections to deflection and diversion programs should be explored...to deflect and divert justice-involved individuals with OUD to treatment.
Deflection opportunities mentioned include the five pathways of deflection (developed by PTACC and TASC’s Center for Health and Justice) that were authorized by Illinois Senate Bill 3023; and diverting individuals from emergency departments. Read the full IL 2020 SOAP.
USICH Response to Homelessness: The Expansion of the Toolbox
Promote Alternatives to Criminalizing People Experiencing Homelessness
US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is statutorily required to develop constructive alternatives to criminalizing homelessness. Laws and policies that prohibit sleeping, feeding, sitting, resting or lying in public spaces - when no suitable alternatives exist - are often selectively enforced against people experiencing homelessness.
USICH identified several actions stakeholders should take to break the link between homelessness and criminal justice involvement:
- Strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and homelessness service organizations.
- Cultivate partnerships with system brokers such as homelessness, veterans, drug and mental health courts, the local prosecutor’s office, public defender’s office, problem-solving courts, legal aid and other decision makers to utilize diversion and intervention practices.
- Promote deflection, pretrial diversion, prosecution and sentencing policies that avoid severe penalties for non-violent offenses.
- Increase capacity of social workers and mental health professionals to work alongside law enforcement to co-respond to address crisis situations among people experiencing homelessness.
Read the full report.
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Did you see it?
Reentry Risks for Justice-Involved Individuals with OUD
There are many opportunities to respond to opioid addiction in the criminal justice system, with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) being the gold standard for treatment. Research shows that providing MOUD pre- and post-release cuts the risk of death by 75%. The Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) aims to improve how the criminal justice system responds to addiction. Watch the video.
A conversation with police about Overdose Prevention Sites (OPS)
PTACC national partner, Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) and the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association (GLEPHA) hosted a webinar on overdose prevention sites. Access the recording.
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Want to get involved in the growing field of deflection and pre-arrest diversion?
Then join a PTACC Strategy Area!
Check It Out! The PTACC National Pre-Arrest Diversion Resource Website.
PTACC is the NATIONAL voice of the pre-arrest diversion field and provides vision, leadership, advocacy, and education to facilitate the growth and practice of deflection and pre-arrest diversion across the United States.
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