The Newburgh Heights Police Department recognizes that drug addiction is a disease. This program is aimed at getting help to the people suffering from opioid addiction, instead of putting them in handcuffs.
Anyone who enters the Newburgh Heights Police station and voluntarily asks for help with their addiction to opiates will be placed into appropriate treatment.
You will not be arrested. You will not be jailed. You will not be charged with a crime. You will be directed to a treatment facility.
Opioid overdose deaths are a community crisis. These deaths include the use of heroin, fentanyl, prescription pills, and other opiate drugs. The five states with the highest rates of drug overdose deaths in the country include Ohio. Our region, Cuyahoga County, has the highest number of unintentional overdose deaths in the state (numbers from 2016). The Newburgh Heights Police Department aims to do something about this. With the help and support of the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI), and other law enforcement partners who first brought the Safe Passages initiative to Northeast Ohio, the Newburgh Heights Police Department has committed to the idea of combating this problem by encouraging opiate users to seek recovery and connecting people with treatment programs.
When a person comes to the Newburgh Heights Police station, they can ask for help by saying, “I’m here for the Safe Passages program”. A Newburgh Heights Police employee will take you to a private area to complete some paperwork. They will guide you through the intake process. Based on this, we will find a suitable treatment facility from our list of partners. We facilitate entry into treatment and act as part of a necessary support system. Oftentimes, placement will not be immediate. Although we are capable of starting the intake process whenever you are ready, the best times to come in for help are: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
These hours are when the majority of our resources are available to us. It may speed up the process. If these hours prohibit your ability to come in for help…then come in whenever you can.
The Newburgh Heights Police Department has partnered with the police departments in Berea, Olmsted Township and Bedford to make this program accessible to all who need it. You need not be a resident to get assistance.
Exceptions: We may not be able to support you if you currently have an outstanding warrant, have 3 or more drug trafficking convictions, have an extensive history of violent crime or arson, you are a registered sex offender, or you are under 18 without a parent or guardian consent. Please inquire if you have any questions prior to intake.
For more information and a flyer outlining the program click here