Haskell, Breen cheer Westbrook's comprehensive drug initiative

WESTBROOK — Sens. Anne Haskell and Cathy Breen, who each represent part of Westbrook,  lauded the city’s Police Department’s community-based initiative to combat heroin and other substance abuse and addiction.

The initiative includes the department, the City of Westbrook, the Westbrook School Department, and dozens of community partners, including Mercy Hospital, the Maine Alliance of Addiction Recovery, the My Place Teen Center, Unum and Avesta Housing. The coalition’s focus is comprehensive, including education and awareness, treatment and recovery, and law enforcement.

“I want to commend the Police Department’s leadership on this issue,” said Sen. Haskell, the ranking Senate Democrat on the Health and Human Services Committee. “They are on the front lines every day, and recognize that their law enforcement capabilities, substantial though they are, won’t be enough to address drug abuse in this region. In Augusta, we have to heed their wisdom as we undertake our own work to address this growing problem in our state.”

Westbrook’s is the latest police department in the region to embrace a comprehensive approach toward the state’s drug crisis. This year, the Scarborough Police Department launched Operation HOPE, which has helped 50 Mainers suffering from addiction get into recovery in its first 50 days. In Portland, the police department this month launched LEAAP, the Law Enforcement Addiction Advocacy Program, which will hire a substance abuse disorder liaison to help link addicts to treatment and recovery services.

“More and more police departments around our state are recognizing the importance of building bridges between law enforcement and the treatment and prevention communities,” said Sen. Breen. “We’ve been fighting the War on Drugs for a long time, and it’s important that the weapons we use in that fight evolve with the times. This is a great step.”

###