News Article

Heroin addicts turn themselves into police for treatment

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

by Newsnet 5 ABC Cleveland

LODI, Ohio - Fed up with arresting heroin addicts over and over again, Lodi police officers are working with a former addict and taking a new approach to end the heroin epidemic.
Working with the PAARI Project, the Lodi Police Department encouraged people struggling with addiction to turn themselves into police. In return, police will help them get the treatment they need.

Nicole Walmsley, a former addict, brought the project to Lodi's attention. She pitched the idea to 50 departments before Lodi got on board. "Nobody was there, when I wanted help. There were no resources," Walmsley said.

Through the project, anyone in the Lodi area with an opiate addiction could turn themselves into police. They'll face no criminal charges, but immediately get the help getting on the path to recovery.
Lodi's police chief said this is just another way to target the epidemic head on.