SAFE Project Invests in Law Enforcement Training for Opioid Response

Note: This is a past press release from June 2018. It is preserved here for archival and informational purposes.

WASHINGTON, DC — This week, more than 5,000 justice and recovery professionals on the front lines of the nation’s battle against the opioid epidemic have convened in Houston for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) annual conference—the world’s largest event focused on addiction and the justice system.

Through an inaugural scholarship program offered by its Law Enforcement & Medical Response Line of Operation, SAFE Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic) provided three unique opportunities for law enforcement professionals to gain education, training, and a network of support in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

“Law enforcement professionals are on the front lines of the addiction crisis in our country, and having them embrace a response that doesn’t rely on arrests and incarceration begins with education,” said SAFE Project Co-Chair Admiral Sandy Winnefeld. “Offering training to members of law enforcement is a critical component to the SAFE Project strategy, and we are grateful to our partners at NADCP for working with us to identify this inaugural opportunity.”

The scholarships were awarded in May to two Deputy Sheriffs from the Harris County Sheriff’s Department in Pennsylvania and a Sergeant from the Houston Police Department. Recipients were selected based on their departments’ needs, their direct roles in the opioid crisis, and their demonstrated commitment to community engagement.

This inaugural effort is designed to fill a long-standing gap in education and training for law enforcement officers dealing with the opioid epidemic—while also reshaping how officers approach interactions with individuals living with substance use disorder. By sponsoring officers to attend sessions on best-practice policing, the science of addiction, and innovative diversion strategies, the program supports SAFE Project’s broader “SAFE Communities” initiative.

“The scholarships provided by SAFE Project help ensure law enforcement have the training they need to respond to the opioid epidemic,” said NADCP CEO Carson Fox. “NADCP is honored to partner with SAFE Project as we continue to ensure people struggling with opioid use disorder have access to life-saving treatment.”

After participating in dozens of conference tracks and hundreds of hours of educational sessions, the scholarship recipients will return to their departments to share what they’ve learned with colleagues and peers. They will also continue working with the SAFE Project team to expand the impact of this training across their regions—and help identify future scholarship candidates.

“At the end of the day, SAFE Project hopes to increase the number of law enforcement agencies proactively engaging with their communities to both decrease drug supply and demand in this national crisis,” concluded ADM Winnefeld.

The scholarship recipients will be recognized during keynote remarks by SAFE Project Co-Chairs Admiral and Mary Winnefeld at the conference’s closing ceremony on June 2.

About National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP)

NADCP is the premier membership, training, and advocacy organization for the treatment court model, now found in over 3,000 programs across every U.S. state, four territories, and more than 20 countries. Since 1994, NADCP and its divisions—the National Drug Court Institute, National Center for DWI Courts, and Justice For Vets—have trained hundreds of thousands of professionals in legal, clinical, and law enforcement fields. NADCP publishes leading research and standards, including the Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards, and works to transform how the justice system responds to individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Learn more at AllRise.org.

About SAFE Project

SAFE Project is a national 501(c)3) nonprofit committed to overcoming the addiction epidemic in the United States. SAFE Project provides transformative programming, training, and technical assistance based upon a collaborative, multipronged and nonpartisan approach within each of our key initiatives – SAFE Campuses, SAFE Communities, SAFE Workplaces and SAFE Veterans. Our work is fueled through six distinct, yet interrelated lines of operation: public awareness, full-spectrum prevention, prescriptions & medical response, law enforcement & criminal justice, treatment & recovery, and family outreach & support. SAFE Project turns hope into action. For more information visit safeproject.us.