PA LEAD, or Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, allows someone seeking treatment for addiction to visit their local police department and be connected with a participating local treatment partner without threat of arrest. PA LEAD kicked off in 2018 in Somerset County and expanded this past March in Carbon County.
“For too long we have been doing a disservice to people suffering with substance abuse by not treating their addiction,” Attorney General Shapiro said during a press conference today inside the Schuylkill County Courthouse. “As I’ve said over and over again, addiction is a disease, not a crime. We must do more to help people who need – and want – serious treatment, and we must do more to reduce the financial burden of incarceration for taxpayers.
“District Attorney O’Pake created this important county-wide policy working with my office. It is important and notable that the launch of this program has the support of Judge Goodman, police chiefs, law enforcement, and drug and alcohol officials in Schuylkill County. By connecting Schuylkill Countians to treatment, we will save lives, reduce the demand for illegal drugs, and make our communities safer.”
Shapiro said partnering Schuylkill County law enforcement agencies under PA LEAD will:
- Open their station doors to those suffering from addiction.
- Help identify treatment for those who seek it.
- Assist with ensuring that people have transportation to the facilities.
- Maintain relationships with local treatment providers to understand availability, and
- Collect data to study outcomes.
“No single agency, group or individual is able to lessen the impact of drugs in Schuylkill County,” but collaboratively, Schuylkill County REACH can make the lives of those suffering from substance abuse disorders and the lives of all Schuylkill County residents better. Pennsylvania LEAD is just one more tool to use to accomplish this goal.”
Janene Holter, PhD, is the Office of Attorney General’s dedicated full-time agent who coordinates PA LEAD, including training, providing sample policies and documents, and convening key community stakeholders.
First launched in Somerset Co, then Carbon Co -- today we bring PA LEAD to Schuylkill Co.— AG Josh Shapiro (@PAAttorneyGen) January 14, 2020
My Office’s LEAD Program helps law enforcement connect those with substance use disorder with local treatment options. This treats addiction the way it ought to be treated -- as a disease. pic.twitter.com/vIHlPwJNL9