Crime & Safety
Burlington Police Department Hires Staff to Address Opioid Addicition
The new program seeks to connect drug users with community resources to help them with the recovery process.
BURLINGTON, MA -- The Burlington Police Department hired a full-time program director and a part-time "recovery coach" to offer outreach, support, and treatment referrals for individuals with substance use disorders and their families. Margie Taylor, the full-time program director, and Jackie Tayabji, the part-time recovery coach, were hired using funds from an AmeriCorps grant the department received with the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative.
The new statewide program launched earlier this month and has police departments across the state acting as a center for helping people with substance abuse problems treatment. The departments work with existing recovery programs and community groups. The AmeriCorps program places 25 of its members in host police departments throughout the state.
Subscribe to Burlington Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.
Find out what's happening in Burlingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"The opioid crisis has touched virtually every city and town within the Commonwealth," Burlington Police Chief Michael Kent said in a statement. "We are very committed to our new partnership forged through the P.A.A.R.I./AmeriCorps Program and we are confident that together, we can make a very positive impact on people and families within our community."
Both Taylor and Tayabji received training through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. They will partner with the department to connect with and support those who are active drug users, those who have recently overdosed, those seeking treatment, and those in early recovery.
Find out what's happening in Burlingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"P.A.A.R.I.’s mission is to provide resources to help law enforcement agencies combat the opioid epidemic and this innovative program will add significant capacity to our law enforcement partners and utilize service as a solution to address critical community needs," said P.A.A.R.I. Executive Director Allie Hunter McDade. "We are thrilled that Burlington Police Department has signed on as a partner for the inaugural year of the program."
Photo of Margie Taylor by AmeriCorps.
Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
