Law Enforcement Teaming Up with Health Care Provider During Overdose Calls

As National Recovery Month draws to a close, a partnership is taking shape in Grants Pass. The Grants Pass Police Department is teaming up with Adapt Integrated Health Care in a new collaboration aimed at combatting drug and alcohol addiction, preventing overdoses, and providing seamless access to substance use disorder services.

This innovative partnership is set to make a profound impact in the community by streamlining the way law enforcement and healthcare professionals respond to drug-related emergencies. Here’s how it works: when a 911 call is placed for a suspected drug overdose, a well-coordinated response is triggered. Alongside police officers and medical personnel, Adapt Integrated Health Care’s “Recovery Mentors” are alerted and dispatched to the scene.

Once the area is secured, Grants Pass Police Officers will facilitate what is known as a “warm handoff” to Adapt’s Recovery Mentors. This approach emphasizes the commitment to supporting individuals grappling with substance use disorders by actively promoting immediate access to addiction recovery services.

The need for such a partnership has never been more evident. In 2022, Grants Pass Police, Fire, and EMS responded to 96 overdose calls, tragically witnessing 11 suspected overdose deaths. This year, the numbers have surged with 137 overdoses addressed and 14 suspected overdose deaths, underscoring the urgency and significance of this new collaboration.

This collaborative initiative not only signifies the dedication of the Grants Pass Police Department and Adapt Integrated Health Care to safeguarding and enhancing the well-being of the community but also serves as a practical model for other cities grappling with similar challenges. It epitomizes a unified front in addressing addiction and overdose crises head-on.