July 11, 2019 By Carol Britton Meyer
This is the first story in a series sharing different perspectives about how the current opiate crisis affects our town and ways people with ties to Hingham are reaching out to others to provide support and help to those who are fighting substance abuse disorder.
The Hingham Police Department is a member of Plymouth County Outreach, a collaboration of the 27 municipal police departments in Plymouth County, and the Bridgewater State University Police Department.
PCO partners with dozens of non-law enforcement partners in the healthcare, treatment, and recovery fields as well as local coalitions, faith-based communities, and local hospitals to help those suffering from substance use disorders in Hingham and other South Shore communities.
This is accomplished in part by introducing those with addiction issues to different points of access to treatment while offering compassionate support to them and their families.
PCO collaborates with PAARI (Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative), a national network of more than 400 police departments in 32 states that supports non-arrest or early diversion program models that reach those struggling with addiction before they enter the criminal justice system.
"In the last five years we have been reforming the way we respond to drug addiction and mental health issues," said Hingham Police Chief Glenn Olsson. "I am glad that we as police officers have been involved in the cutting edge of some of these efforts."
Olsson and other Plymouth County police chiefs represented the PCO for the recent presentation of a $10-million-dollar donation by John and Eilene Grayken of Cohasset to South Shore Health Systems, based in South Weymouth.
"This donation will be used to create the Grayken Center, which will help to fight the public health crises surrounding substance abuse and mental health," Olsson said.
According to South Shore Health Systems President and CEO Gene Green, this donation will have an immediate impact on education, training, and ambulatory practices and will launch a rapid-care unit for those who suffer from substance abuse disorders.
"South Shore Health Systems is a staunch medical partner in our Plymouth County Outreach Program," Olsson said.
That support is evidenced by a $930,000 Integrative Behavioral Health grant that South Shore Health awarded to PAARI recently.
Over the next five years PAARI will work with PCO to implement a "hub model" throughout Plymouth County to expand behavioral health services available to the community and to coordinate outreach visits to individuals struggling with substance use/mental health issues.