New Haven police to distribute ‘crack’ pipes, syringes, in hope of keeping addicts alive

New Haven New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes announces the department will begin distributing harm reduction kits. New Haven New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes announces the department will begin distributing harm reduction kits. Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close New Haven police to distribute ‘crack’ pipes, syringes, in hope of keeping addicts alive 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN — City police will begin distributing “harm reduction kits,” including clean syringes and glass pipes, with hopes of keeping those battling drug addiction alive until they are able to commit to seek treatment.

Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said officers often seize and discard needles and pipes, among other paraphernalia, when making an arrest.

But often times, once people are released from custody, they rush to use, driven by addiction — and use unsafe or unfamiliar equipment, placing at them at greater risk of overdosing or contracting HIV.

“While many think that the primary responsibility of police is to protect and enforce the laws, for us in New Haven, the primary responsibility is the protection and the preservation of life. Although there are many situations where we have to arrest, we want our people to know that want to we support every individual’s road to recovery,” said Reyes. “This epidemic is complicated. This affects every facet of our community. And the New Haven Police Department cares deeply about every member of its community.”

Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, commissioner of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, said New Haven would be the first department in the state to distribute such kits.

The kits, to be offered to those discharged from the New Haven police lockup, are also expected to include information about care options in the city, Brillo pads to use as filters for smoking crack cocaine, sterilizing pads, cotton, condoms and a tourniquet, among other items, officials said Thursday.

Each person receiving a kit will be tracked through a unique code, made of the first letter and third letter of their first name, the first letter of their last name, and their date of birth, to allow officials to track how many people seek care.

The decision was lauded Thursday by state officials and members of the health care community as a cutting-edge attempt to aid those in need.

“Individuals released from incarceration, they’re vulnerable, and vulnerable to overdose. Giving individuals harm reduction kits and tools to keep them safe will undoubtedly save lives,” said Delphin-Rittmon.

“It takes all of us working together to help people move into long-term recovery and deal with the challenges of addiction,” she said. “New Haven has shown, as a city, that they’re committed to addressing this crisis collaboratively, with a number of other community partners.”

Joanne Montgomery, chief clinical officer with Norwalk-based Liberation Programs, said harm reduction saved her life. She said she was addicted to heroin for 15 years, in and out of recovery. When her husband died from his addiction, she resolved to seek care — and knew where to go, as advocates and workers had reached out to her while she was struggling.

“It was just people that never gave up on me,” said Montgomery. “All of the people I had met through the years, through the harm reduction efforts out in the streets — I knew right away who I could call and where I could go, and I actually went to Liberation Programs, where I now work.”

Approximately four-dozen officers — those most likely to be assigned to lockup — have received training about addiction, stigma, harm reduction, suicide prevention and the use of Naloxone, an overdose reversal drug, Reyes and Lt. Nicholas Marcucio said.

Marcucio said information about the kits would be posted in each cell in lockup, allowing people to consider whether to take one before being discharged.

Robert Lawlor, a former New Haven police sergeant now employed by the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, helped develop the kits as part of the New Haven Overdose Response Task Force. The effort also involved a series of other community organizations, including the Yale School of Public Health, Reyes said.

Lawlor said it took some time to come around to this method of addressing drug addiction. Ultimately, he said, he came to the realization that officers are not just tasked with enforcing laws, but serving as caretakers for the community.

Reyes said he’d like to think city officers will not have to change their thinking dramatically to be comfortable distributing the kits, as the effort fits with the department’s philosophy.

“When we talk about solving problems, at the very core, it’s really analyzing what’s at the root of the problem if we’re really looking to add sustainable solutions to the mix. And so that’s what we’re looking to do,” said Reyes. “I think our officers have been indoctrinated with that mindset. This is just one step further, where we’re adding to that philosophy for the New Haven Police Department. So we’re proud to say that this is something that is seamless for us, and we welcome it.”

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com