Troy PD teams up with Hope Not Handcuffs drug treatment program

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The Troy Police Department wants to help those facing an addiction. It is teaming up with several other cities in the Hope Not Handcuffs program.

"Everyone knows the struggles of narcotics addiction in our society today," says Troy Police Lt. Josh Jones. "It's really grown. It's a detriment to society; it tears families apart."

Troy Police is offering hope -- and not handcuffs -- to drug addicts and alcoholics who walk through their doors.

"It's part of our job as a police department to be a resource to our community," Jones says.

Anyone ready to kick the habit can walk into the police station and ask for help. Officers will connect them with a program volunteer.

"They send them right to our police station," Jones says. "They meet with that person, they find out what addiction they're suffering from, what programs they have available that they can set them up with."

The city of Troy is the latest to join this statewide effort to combat addiction, specifically opioid abuse through Families Against Narcotics.

It created Hope Not Handcuffs to link law enforcement and community groups to find viable treatment options for heroin and prescription drug addicts -- a stark contrast from how addicts were treated during the crack cocaine epidemic in the 1980s. 

"Not only are we out there arresting people but we can at least be a part of offering a resource of helping people recover and treat their addictions," Jones says. "And I think that's important."

The Hope Not Handcuffs program has helped more than 900 people battling addiction in its first year. Troy is now the third city in Oakland County involved in the program. In all, 40 communities across the state are taking part in it.

To learn more go to: http://www.familiesagainstnarcotics.org/hopenothandcuffs