Liberation Programs Partners with Bridgeport Police Department

{Bridgeport, CT, August 27, 2020} It is no secret that the United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic which is resulting in an increase in fatal drug overdoses. In 2019, the United States saw a 6.6% increase in the number of fatal overdoses with Connecticut seeing an 18% increase in overdose deaths. Bridgeport has been disproportionately impacted by the Opioid Epidemic and has the 3rd most overdoses of any city in Connecticut. In 2019, 60 Bridgeport residents died from overdoses and there were 304 non-fatal overdoses. Tia Reid, Liberation Program’s Regional Director of Outpatient and Outreach Services and Bridgeport resident, states, “The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the Opioid Epidemic. We are seeing overdoses increase across the state and no one should die from this disease”.

Seeing a need for more engagement, support and harm reduction, Liberation Programs (LPI), a leading behavioral health provider of substance use treatment services, and the Bridgeport Police Department have formed a partnership to save lives in Bridgeport. Formally beginning on August 18, 2020, LPI’s Mobile Wellness team is connecting with individuals in areas deemed “hotspots” for substance misuse in the city. Based on calls to the Police Department and trends impacting the community, the LPI Mobile team will provide resources and support in these areas, beginning at Wood and Park Avenues. The Mobile Wellness Van, with funding from the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), provides referrals for treatment, prescriptions for Buprenorphine/Suboxone, Narcan to reverse overdose, harm reduction syringe exchange and educational resources for those struggling with opiates and other substances.

The partnership between Liberation Programs and the Bridgeport Police Department is vital in keeping those with Substance Use Disorders out of the criminal justice system and providing the necessary resources to begin a pathway to recovery. “We could not be more excited about this partnership for community policing. It is so important that we divert and deflect from incarceration and provide lifesaving services instead. The opposite of addiction is connection and we are grateful to be creating these connections with support from the Bridgeport Police Department”, says John Hamilton, President & CEO of Liberation Programs and renowned addiction expert.

Liberation Programs will be piloting this collaboration by spending early mornings in high risk areas that the Police Department determine to be hotspots for drug use. In the first week of the program, 26 individuals approached the van and requested supplies and information for connections to care. “We are honored to work alongside the Bridgeport Police Department’s leadership and officers to offer the residents of Bridgeport much needed services and the ability to connect. The position the department is taking, offering treatment on demand, is innovative and remarkable. Liberation Programs, along with the Bridgeport Police Department are here to serve”, Reid says.

Assistant Police Chief Rebeca Garcia says “We know that when we offer resources to people that are in need, be it drug addiction or mental health matters, we are able to help impact change in our community. So we are excited to be partnering with Liberation Programs.”

To learn more about Liberation Programs or Substance Misuse Treatment, please visit www.liberationprograms.org, email info@liberationprograms.org or call 855-LIB-PROG (855-548-7764).

For Press and Media Inquiries, please contact Fiona Wilkes at Fiona.wilkes@liberationprograms.org or 203-354-6918.

Liberation Programs is one of Fairfield County’s leading behavioral health organizations specializing in treatment for all types of substance use disorders including alcohol, opiates, depressants and stimulants. Our goal is to help individuals and families overcome addiction in order to restore their lives and ultimately strengthen our communities. Liberation provides services for youth, adults and families that include two inpatient treatment programs, outpatient and intensive outpatient services, health education for older adults and people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses, treatment and resources for adolescents and their families, education and prevention efforts in the community, and permanent supportive housing for families. In operation since 1971, the agency has sites in Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport and served more than 2,400 individuals in our last fiscal year.