Anchor Initiative

County: Brunswick

Grantee: Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office

Title: Anchor Initiative

Description: Most of the following information is taken directly from the web page

How The Program Works
Individuals with addictions can contact the Sheriff’s Office through self-referral, social referral or officer interaction
Once contact is made, the person requesting assistance declares they are addicted and request assistance
Participants will not be charged with drugs or paraphernalia found in their possession if socially or self-referred. Participants are not asked where the drugs came from during these encounters. Those encountered by law enforcement while in the criminal element are subject to arrest, however the arrest does not disqualify them from Anchor assistance.
The individual will be put in immediate contact with an Anchor coordinator, who will respond and do an assessment.
The coordinator will contact RHA Mobile Crisis or a like entity to start the process of finding availability for detox facilities.
If the individual is in need of medical treatment, the coordinator will transport then to the local ER to be checked out.
During this process the Anchor Coordinator will be working to find the individual with a treatment option, first seeking inpatient, comprehensive outpatient or intensive outpatient.
The Anchor coordinator will be working with the volunteer group to provide transportation to and from the ER, Detox and Treatment as needed.
The Initiative will strive to keep the cost for these individuals as low as possible, paying for the transportation, Detox (if necessary) and initial entrance fees to treatment providers (if necessary)

Why This Project Was Chosen: Board recommended

Who This Project Impacted: Individuals wanting assistance with addiction and the whole community

Results of Project: Benefits to Law Enforcement
SAVE LIVES
Reduction of Opiate use and related emergency calls
Reduction in property crimes
Increase and strengthen the Law Enforcement/ Community bond Building partnerships and resources
Establishing a plan of action towards combating the next epidemic