Chemung County is taking a more proactive approach to the growing problem of opioid abuse by going beyond traditional law enforcement efforts.
Sheriff Christopher Moss has announced a new program, Operation H.O.P.E., which stands for Heroin and Opioid Prevention Effort. The program will focus on helping jail inmates who abuse heroin and other opioids, along with an outreach effort to educate the public about the dangers of opioid use and what to look for.
Operation H.O.P.E. isn’t based on any existing programs, but was conceived by Capt. Sean Holley, head of the sheriff’s office criminal investigation division, and Capt. Douglas Houper of the road patrol division, Moss said.
“This will be a multi-faceted effort. Inmates who have problems are often released and there’s no mechanism to make sure they are followed up on,” he said. “There will also be more public education. We’ll give presentations throughout the county, and let folks know of the dangers and what to look out for. Heroin is a serious problem. It leads to other crimes as addicts try to support their habit.”
Inmates who are committed to the county jail will be screened more carefully for opioid addiction and will be referred to appropriate programs during and after their incarceration, the sheriff said.
Trinity of Chemung County, which provides substance abuse counseling, and Family Services of Chemung County, which offers mental health services, each already have a presence in the jail, and those relationships will be strengthened under the new program, Moss said.
Inmates will also be referred to the Chemung County Department of Mental Hygiene for ongoing services following their release.
“They will contact my department, which also will respond and engage the person for followup and treatment,” said Brian Hart, director of community services. “This puts more focus on the inmate.”
The other part of the effort will be a push to heighten public awareness of the opioid crisis. Sheriff’s office representatives will be available to give free presentations to any interested organizations in Chemung County.
“A big aspect is education. A lot of the public are not aware of the problem or how to address it,” Holley said. “We’ll work with both the private and public sectors, schools and organizations. We’ll have a PowerPoint presentation and training for folks who want it.”
The program has the full support of the county, said County Executive Tom Santulli.
Opioid addiction isn’t just a law enforcement issue. It’s also a quality of life issue, Santulli said.
“We have a problem in this county and we’re not alone,” he said. “You can’t fix things if you don’t talk about them. We’re at a crossroads in this community. If we don’t have a proper environment for people to want to come here and stay here, it doesn’t work. You have to work together. Quality of life is everything.”
Chemung County Legislator Rodney J. Strange is a strong supporter of the Sheriff’s Office’s program and says this problem is a top issue for our county. “We lead the nation in heroin and opioid abuse. This is a public health crisis that must be delt with on the local level and Sheriff Moss’ s Operation H.O.P.E. is a comprehensive plan to do just that,” Strange said. “As a legislator, I will do what I can to help lead that effort.”
Moss says this type of assistance will also be provided to people who are administered the overdose reversal drug Narcan.
To read the entire Operation H.O.P.E. brochure published by the Sheriff’s Office, click here.
To learn more about Operation H.O.P.E. or to schedule a presentation for your organization, contact the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office at 607-737-2987, ext. 74104.