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LISBON -- The Columbiana County Drug Task Force joined forces with five law enforcement units and 14 community groups this past week to build bridges to treatment for area drug abusers.
Called Bridge Day, the effort Wednesday in the northern half of the county focused on offering help to people with drug problems instead of arresting them.
"I think it adds the human factor to what's going on," DTF Director Detective Sgt. Brett Grabman said, adding they're seeing people as people and "not a statistic."
Part of a statewide program, Grabman said the primary purpose for Bridge Day was for "law enforcement to work with community-based groups and get information on treatment services out to people who need it."
Another goal was to come together to help deflect the drug problem away from the courts.
This was a different kind of operation for the DTF, where agents and mental health representatives conducted personal visits with people they know are drug-addicted or have mental health concerns. That was one tier of Bridge Day.
Another tier involved community resource professionals at pop-up tents outside the Salem Walmart, speaking with people, presenting information, referring people to treatment options and even scheduling appointments.
The third tier involved patrol units conducting a saturation patrol in the northern end of the county for drug interdiction with mental health support.
The results were positive, with 368 people encounters altogether, 36 referrals to treatment, 10 referred to community resources, 362 connected to community resources and 26 Narcan kits distributed. One woman accepted treatment and was driven to the facility on the spot. There were only two arrests during the saturation patrols.
"The response seemed to be rather receptive, which is good," Grabman said.
Some of the people encountered were drug addicts, some were addicts in recovery and some were family and friends of addicts.
"The emphasis was on treatment, recovery and getting help," he said.
Besides the DTF, participating police agencies included Salem, Perry Township, Lisbon, Columbiana and the Sheriff's Office, which all have members on the DTF. Some of the community partners included the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, Columbiana County Family and Children First Council, On Demand/New Day Recovery, the Counseling Center, Family Recovery Center, First Responder Wellness Program and HELP Network NEO/Peer Resource Recovery Center.
Grabman said the plan is to hold this program again. He said if you take drugs off the street, you don't really know how many lives that may affect or how many lives may be saved. When you talk to someone on the street and get them to go to treatment, you know you saved a life, he said.
He quoted Salem Police Chief J.T. Panezott, who served as the first director of the county DTF, and said "We can't arrest our way out of the problem."
Grabman pointed out that out of all the agencies participating in Bridge Day, only five were law enforcement besides the DTF. He thought that was pretty cool the way the agencies all came together for a common cause.
That's the whole idea behind the DTF, having the different police agencies in the county come together to battle the drug problem. Participating agencies include Salem, the Sheriff's Office, Lisbon, Columbiana and Perry Township. Perry Township contributes a part-time officer, while the rest have full-time officers. There are seven agents, with five full-time.
According to Grabman, a vast majority of the overdoses have decreased in the northern end of the county.
"We have had addicts tell us that it's more difficult than what it used to be to get drugs in Salem," he said, adding that's a good sign.
For communities who participate and collaborate as part of the DTF, their drug problems improve. He said they're not ignoring other communities, they work well with some of the other departments, including St. Clair Township.
The DTF was recently notified about receiving a RecoveryOhio grant for $39,925.
State Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel, R-Columbiana, issued a press release regarding the good news.
"I have been to our local drug force's facility and met with our county sheriff's team to discuss their ongoing efforts to reduce drug crimes impacting our communities - this funding will be put to good use to make that happen," Robb Blasdel said.
Back in March, she said she met with local law enforcement to discuss the pertinent issue of the DTF. Specifically, it was emphasized how important it is to keep drugs off the streets.
"That $39,000 will greatly assist the continual fight against drug addiction in Columbiana County," county Sheriff Brian McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin is a former DTF director.
According to Grabman, that money will be used to help agencies that actively participate in the DTF.
He said that when the DTF had its highest number of cases ever, 228 cases in 12 months, they had 11 agents, 10 of whom were full-time. So far this year, they're at 159 cases with just seven agents (five full-time). If they continue at that pace, they will shatter that high mark.
He said the DTF needs willing participation from agencies willing to help and share resources and he promises their participation will improve their community.
The DTF can be reached at 330-424-0309.